Pre-harvest Sprouting is one of the main factors that reducing the rice grain yield and quality in humid weather condition with raining at harvest time. Thirty four local and improved rice cultivars were evaluated for pre-harvest Sprouting and some related characteristics to this trait at in vivo condition. Analysis of variance results indicated that the differences between rice genotypes were significant for pre-harvest Sprouting and some other traits of grain. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients of pre-harvest Sprouting with alpha amylase activity were positive, this result showed that the alpha amylase activity had significant effect on pre-harvest Sprouting. All rice cultivars classified into three groups by cluster analysis using ward method. First group included 24 cultivars and second and third groups included 4 and 6 cultivars respectively. In total, cultivars of the first and third groups had the lowest of pre-harvest Sprouting rate, so they were resistant to germination before harvest and the cultivars of second group had the highest of pre-harvest Sprouting rate, so they were sensitive to germination before harvest. Results of this experiment showed some local rice cultivars such as Domsefid and Hashemi, with high resistance to pre-harvest Sprouting could potentially be used in breeding programms.

Sprouting is responsible for about 12 to 15 percent of the potato waste storage. Despite of effective existing methods, such as the use of chloropropham to control potatoes Sprouting, the emergence of harmful aspects due to application of this chemical preservative, and growing interests of consumers towards healthy foods, persuade us to use natural compounds to inhibit potato Sprouting. In response to this need, Eucalyptus and Lavender extracts with different levels of concentrations, 0, 0. 5, 1, 2, and 4 g / L, were used each month to control Sprouting (germination) of storage potatoes, Agria germin, for 6 months. A group of tubers were only treated by 37g chlorpropham (5 purity). Data were analyzed by completely randomized design with 3 replications and factorial experiment at 5% statistical level. Results showed that with increasing the concentration of extracts from 0. 5 g/l to 2 g/l, potato Sprouting was controlled more effectively and significantly. Further increase in concentration of extracts did not have any effect. Usage of these extracts at concentration of 0. 5 g/l stimulated the tuber Sprouting compared to the control. Using a concentration of 2 g / l of Eucalyptus and Lavender extract, germination of the tubers decreased 64 and 82 percent respectively, and also total weight of the sprouts declined 79 and 86 percent, respectively. The best effect was achieved by 2 g/l combination extract of Eucalyptus and Lavender which showed more than 90 percent reduction in tubers Sprouting. Organoleptic evaluation of the boiled and fried potatoes, treated with chlorpropham (CIPC) or the combined extract of Eucalyptus and lavender, did not showed significant differences, but both of them, received more points compared to the control tubers.

Plane tree (platanus orientalis) as a fast growing tree species is a suitable tree for planting in urban areas and a forestation. But it has problems in terms of propagation. So, an experiment conducted to investigate methods of propagation by different cuttings. For this experiment, cutting branches of two years age with different diameters size of 9>mm (small), 10-5(medium) and 16-25 (big), with two and three buds, were used from Troq nursery. Cuttings planted vertically into loamy soil, so that one bud was out of soil. Data were collected for eight periods from March 31 to August 6 of 2004. The first Sproutings were observed 10 days after planting. The trend of Sproutings were fast by about 10 May and then became slow and ceased. Measurement of Sprouting was cumulative. The results of cutting Sprouting percentage by the end of experiment showed significant differences between big and small diameters. Cutting of big, medium and small size produced 97%, 93% and 89% of Sprouting, respectively. There were no significant differences between two and three cutting buds. Cuttings of three buds had 94% and cuttings of two buds had 92% Sprouting. In general, all cuttings produced more than 80% Sprouting, so in spite of importance of Sprouting in plant propagation and better results in which obtained from big cuttings, it seems that Sprouting is not a main problem for plane tree.  

The objective of this study was to investigate taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] corm quality as determined by changes in starch morphology and degradation during storage after harvest. Starch is the major nutrient component of taro corms and its quality in corms that are stored as planting material or consumption has not been fully explained. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the changes that occur to the surface morphology of starch granules in corms of taro landraces, Dumbe-dumbe, Mgingqeniand Pitshi, stored at cool (12oC) and ambient (20oC) temperatures. Alphaamylase activity and Sprouting were used as indicators of changes in the starch granules, and hence corm quality, during storage in polyethylene bags, card boxes, and mesh bags. The degradation of starch granules, alpha amylase activity, and Sprouting increased over storage time and varied with landraces, storage material, and temperature. Overall, there was 23% more alpha-amylase activity and 67% more Sprouting at 20ºC compared with 12oC. With respect to storage material, polyethylene bags showed the highest alpha-amylase activity (0.18 EU 0.1 g-1) followed by card boxes (0.15 EU mg-1 0.1 g-1) and mesh bags (0.14 EU mg-1 0.1 g-1). A similar, but more pronounced, trend was observed for Sprouting. The findings have implications for selection of storage material for food and propagule storage.