The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding different levels of molasses (1-5%) on the silage quality, in vitro methane production and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of pista-chio (Pistachio vera) by-product and wheat straw mixture silages. For this purpose, silages were prepared with pistachio by-product (85%) and wheat straw (15%) without molasses (control group), and with addi-tion of molasses from 1% to 5% (treatment groups). All the treatments consisted of five replicate silos, and they were prepared in 1.5 L glass jar silos. While silage pH and acetic acid values decreased with addition of molasses levels (P<0.05), silage lactic acid values increased (P<0.05). Butyric and propionic acid were not detected in any of the silages. Addition of all levels of molasses increased in vitro methane production, IVOMD and metabolizable energy (ME) values (P<0.05). As a result, fresh pistachio by-product can be ensiled with addition of wheat straw and molasses to produce good quality silage. It can be concluded that this by product can be ensiled well and used as a roughage source with mixture of other roughage sources for animal nutrition in the regions where fresh pistachio by product is available.

Introduction: Iran, is the largest producer and exporter of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. ), among the major pistachio producing countries in the world including USA, Turkey, Italy and Greece. Due to the altered nature of the pistachio, the high yield of the pistachio is due to the fact that the environment is quite suitable and fertility of the female flowers is high. As the edible and consumable part of this fruit is its kernel, it is essential for brain formation, pollination and inoculated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of artificial parent pollination of Integrima species on seed properties obtained by crossing with ‘ Fandoghi’ pistachio cultivar and also to compare the effects of Integerrima pollen with domestic pistachio pollen on the quantity and quality of pistachio fruits and seeds. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in one of Astan Qods Razavi pistachio gardens in Bardsaskan-Anabed city, 297 km from Mashhad during 2018-2019. Experimental treatments included two pollinator methods (spray and brush) and five flour-pollen combinations. Each replicate had one tree and five branches that were selected from each tree with at least three to four flower buds. Four of them were controlled for pollination and one branch was considered for negative control. The branches were insulated by two-layer bags. The fruits were harvested in late summer and some quantitative and qualitative traits were measured. Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed that the effect of flour-pollen blend on fruit formation of ‘ Fandoghi’ cultivar in the first stage was significant (p≤ 0. 01), but there was not a significant difference between the simple effect of their pollen and the interaction of their mixture and pollen (p≤ 0. 05). The amount of fruit formation in the second stage showed a significant difference with respect to the simple effect of flour-pollen blend (p≤ 0. 01) but there were no significant differences between the mixture and pollinator for simple and their interaction effects (p≤ 0. 05). All of the simple and interactions effects of variations were significant (p≤ 0. 01) on the final stage of fruits shape of ‘ Fandoghi’ cultivar. Fruit loss was significantly (p≤ 0. 01) affected by simple effect of flour-pollen blend, but there was no significant difference (p≤ 0. 05) of simple and interaction effects of their pollen between blend and pollen variations. None of the simple and interaction effects of variations were not significant on wet weight of fruit. No significant difference was observed between the effect of pollen and pollen interactions between the mixture and their pollen, and the effect of simple mixture of flour-pollen show significant (p≤ 0. 01). The effect of pollen and flour-pollen mixture on dehiscent was significant (p≤ 0. 01), but the interaction of pollen in the mixture was not significant. Correlation coefficients of traits under evaluation showed that there was a significant positive and negative correlation between different traits, so that the highest positive and significant correlation (88%) was observed between the second stage and the final stage of fruit formation.

The pistachio twig borer moth, Kermania pistaciella Amsel (Lep.: Tineidae) is one of the most important pests of pistachio trees in Iran. This study was carried out with the purpose of examining the infestation rate for various cultivars to this pest. The field studies were conducted for the collection of existing pistachio cultivars at three pistachio research stations including Rafsanjan stations 1 and 2 as well as at Kerman station respectively on 38, 25 and 29 pistachio cultivars during 2005 – 2008. The infestation rate was determined with selection of six trees related to each pistachio cultivar, and 50 clusters of each tentative tree were picked up randomly, and also by sampling from the healthy and infected clusters simultaneously at harvesting time in September. The results showed that, the cultivars of Italiaei Rize were the most infested and Lak Sirizei had the least infected clusters of this pest at the station number 1. In station number 2, the cultivars of Shasti and Khanjari Damghan indicated the highest and the least infested clusters of this pest respectively, but the infestation rate for 4 commercial cultivars e. g. Ohadi, Ahmad Aghaei, Kallehghochi and Akbari, had no significant difference. In Kerman station, the highest infestation obtained for cultivar of Karim-Abadi and cultivar of Harati had the least infested clusters. Maximum emergence of matured K. pistaciella occurred since pollination stage until the time of fruit formation on commercial pistachio cultivars. The information obtained from this research can be used for controlling management of this pest.

The common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae is the most important pest of pistachio trees which causes serious damage to pistachio crops. In the present study, we investigated some physiological-biochemical responses of pistachio Akbari cultivar at different feeding periods (2 to 192 h). Hydrogen peroxide contents as stress index had no significant differences between treatments (except for 2 and 96 h treatments). Also a significant decrease was gained in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The lowest activity of SOD, CAT and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) observed at 144 and 192 h. The amount of total protein increased significantly in response to the pest feeding and the lowest concentration observed at the onset of experiment. Total phenolic content increased following psylla feeding while no significant changes observed in total soluble carbohydrates. Amount of the pigments fluctuated in different times of feeding and their elevation after 144 h indicated optimal plant growth under stress conditions. The highest amounts of carotenoids, total phenolic content and total protein after 144 h were associated with the lowest activities of defensive enzymes. Our results showed an appropriate combination of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants leads to plant conservation and homeostasis regulation under stress conditions.

A study was conducted to evaluate non chemical methods of weed control in pistachio (Pistachio vera) gardens, located in Feyzabad, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, in 2007. The layout was completely randomized block design with six treatments and three replications. Non-chemical treatments were three types of mulches (plastic cover, saw dust and wheat hay (straw)), flaming and rotivating plus an untreated control. Treatments were applied at 5-7 leaf stage of weeds. 35 days after treatments weed density and weed dry matter were measured in each plot. The results showed rotivating, flaming and using mulches (plastic cover, saw dust and wheat hay) caused significant decrease (p<0.01) in weed density and weed dry matter compare to the untreated control, respectively. The highest and the lowest weed control efficiency and cost related to plastic mulch and rotivator treatment with 55,000,000 rials and 240,000 rials, respectively. Plastic mulch was not advisable due to the high cost of application. Gardeners prefer rotivator treatment due to the maintaining soil moisture and simplicity of operation. Our results showed in economical point of view, using rotivator for weed control was cost effective but did not controlled weeds as well as plastic, saw dust and wheat hay mulches. In conclusion, saw dust and wheat hay mulches were best treatments advisable for weed control in pistachio gardens by considering both economical and weed control efficiency aspects.

As water scarcity is enhancing in Kerman province, some of pistachio producers transferred their capital to other provinces in order to produce pistachio. In this study, using analysis of variance method, socio-economic effects of investment in new places by Kerman’s pistachio producers was investigated. A sample of 206 farmers was selected, using stratified random sampling method. The results showed that those farmers who have not invested in other provinces had more willingness to protect water resources in their own. In other words, farmers who transfer to new places have less incentive to protect water resources in their own native place. The results also showed that the farmers who invest without permanent residence, have less incentive to protect water resources in new places. In other words, investment in new places shold be done by farmers who are permanent resident in new places or government must increase control water pumping in both old and new places. If not, water degradation in all pistachio producing areas will increase.

The common pistachio Psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) has wide distributed pest in most pistachio orchards all around the world. This study aimed to evaluate awareness of farmers with economic injury level of the common pistachio psyllid. The research is a kind of descriptive which has done through a survey method in 2017 year. The statistical population consisted of all pistachio farmers in Rafsanjan Township. Using Krejcie and Morgan’ s Table and stratified random sampling method with proportion to size, 380 farmers were selected from six area as sample. Questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. According to the results, farmers considered pistachio psyllid as the most important pest in the region and are more aware of this pest compared to other pests. Most farmers, spray as soon as observing the pistachio psyllid. This shows that pistachio producers couldn’ t tolerate the psyllid population as long as it reach the threshold of economic losses. It seems that pistachio producers don't pay attention to the economic injury level and thus many problems arise in the Rafsanjan Township pistachio gardens including improper use of chemicals, resistance to the psyllid and the loss of biological control effective factors. Based on correlation test, there are significant differences between extensional programs and knowledge of pistachio producers about pistachio pests. Therefore, familiarizing farmers with pests and their economic injury level requires a dynamic extension programs.