No abstract

In order to investigate the effect of EM (Effective Microorganisms) application and various nitrogen levels on qualitative and quantitative traits of strawberry cultivar 'Paros'. The layout of the experiment was based on randomized complete block with three replications. The research was conducted in an experimental planting of strawberry cv. 'Paros' at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, during 2014-2015. EM was used at four rates (0, 1, 2, and 3%) in two ways (soil and foliar application) and nitrogen was used in three rates (50, 100 and 150 kg*ha-1 soil application). Leaf area, number of flowers per plant, number of fruit per plant, length, volume, fresh and dry weight of fruit, yield per plant, vitamin C content, total soluble solids content and total acidity were measured. There was significant difference between the EM and nitrogen treatments for all the traits except fruit shelf life. Mean comparison revealed that 2% concentration of EM had positive effect on most of the traits. Regarding nitrogen treatments, the best yield was obtained at application of 100 kg*ha-1 .

Genotype-environment interaction (GEI) is very important for breeders. It is considered a complicated issue in breeding programs to obtain stable and high-yielding genotypes to release new genotypes. This study was conducted to achieve a stable high-yielding genotype that is adaptive to climatic conditions of potato-producing regions in Iran. A total of 20 potato breeding lines along with five commercial varieties (Savalan, Agria, Caesar, Luta and Satina) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replicates in the Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Stations of five location (Ardabil, Razavi Khorasan, Karaj, Isfahan and Hamadan) in Iran, for two years (2016 and 2017). Combined ANOVA of yield data for studied genotypes and environments indicates significant differences among potato genotypes, environments, and GE interaction was significant. Thus, the AMMI method and its parameters were used to analyze yield stability. The results indicated that only four interaction principal components were significant (p < 0.01), which accounted for 81.2% of the GEI sum of squares. Based on type 1 parameters (SIPC1, FA1, Za1, Dz1, EV1, and Da1), genotypes G7, G10, G14, G20 and G24 were identified as to be stable. Moreover, according to the results of type 2, 3 and 4 parameters, genotypes G2, G6, G7, G14, G15 and G20, as well as cultivars Agria (G24) and Luta (G23), were found to be stable. Genotypes G6, G7, G14, G15, G20, and G24 were stable according to the ASV parameter, and genotypes G6 and G7 were stable based on the MASV parameter. Amongst the stable genotypes identified by the AMMI parameters, while genotype G6 was high-yielding, G14 and G24 (Agria) were moderate-yielding.

To study the effects of some new facilitators on the vegetative and morphological traits of Thymus kotschyanus, nine treatments were tested in the experimental rangeland field at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Treatments included control, potassium silicate nanoparticles (PSN) with two levels of 500 and 1000 mg/lit, superabsorbent hydrogel (SH) with two levels of 10 and 30 g/kg, animal manure (AM) with two levels of 100, 200 g/kg, and effective microorganisms (EM) with two levels of 1 and 2%. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results of mean comparisons of treatments for Thymus kotschyanus characteristics showed that the highest amount of studied traits were observed in the treated SH 30 g/kg. These traits include plant height (19.44 cm), basal area (4.66 cm), canopy cover (99.11%), number of secondary branches (9.44) and depth of rooting (16.49 cm), aerial parts volume (26.77 cm 3), root volume (17.66 cm 3), aerial parts fresh weight (14.40 g), aerial parts dry weight (7.18 g), root fresh weight (3.98 g), and root dry weight (2.07 g). In general, the impact of treatments on Thymus growth traits were ranked as follows: SH 30 g/kg, PSN 1000 mg/lit, AM 200 g/kg, SH 10 g/kg, PSN 500 mg/lit, AM 100 g/kg, EM 2%, and EM 1%. In addition, the lowest plant traits were found in control. Overall, it is recommended extending the cultivation of this native medicinal plant by considering ecological conditions in each region. In addition, to promote the establishment and facilitate the growth of planted species, it is recommended using the facilitators utilized in the present work.

No abstract

Rosa damascena as a holy ancient plant with modern uses in perfumery and therapeutic processes, should be more investigated due to its utilization in food ingredients, preclinical and clinical studies, and cosmetics industry. Here, we have evaluated the proline content, total phenol of sepal and petal, oil content, and essential oil (EO) composition in different damask rose ecotypes [(Oroumieh; OR), (Golab; GB), (Oskou; OS), (London; LN), and (Mahallat; MT)]. The highest proline and oil content produced in GB ecotype. There was a positive correlation between oil content and proline production in ecotypes (r2 = 0.8064). The major compounds of rose EOs in OR, GB, OS, and MT ecotypes were nonadecane, heneicosane, citronellol, and geraniol. Whereas the main compounds in LN oil were heneicosane (11.43%), Z-5-nonadecene (10.34%), citronellol (8.84%), and geraniol (6.97%). The highest content of Terpenes + Sesquiterpenes were produced in GB followed by MT, while the lowest Terpenes + Sesquiterpenes content were in OR and LN, respectively. Based on the uses of rose oil for cosmetics, medicine, and/or therapeutic processes, the specific ecotype with distinct oil profile can be proposed.

Seed priming has proved to be an effective method in imparting stress tolerance to plants using natural and/or synthetic compounds to treat the seeds before germination. The present study was designed to investigate the physiological mechanism of seed priming with ZnSO4 (osmopriming) and distilled water (hydropriming) on sugar beet genotypes (‘Shokofa’, ‘Sina’, ‘Paya’, ‘Turbata’, and ‘Aria’) germination indices, seedling growth parameters, and biochemical properties under salinity stress (0, 2, 5, and 12 dS/m NaCl). A significant reduction in germination percentage (33.23%), germination rate (77.2%), chlorophyll a, b, and total contents (43.9, 31.9, and 39.9%, respectively) while, a significant increase in radical, plumule, and seedling length (57.1, 44.4, and 51.2%, respectively), seedling vigour index (48.9%), superoxide dismutase activity (61.3%), proline (54.0%) and sugar (56.3%) contents were achieved at 12 dS/m NaCl in compared to the control treatment. Seed hydropriming and osmopriming caused significant improvements in photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzyme activity, and proline content reflected in high germination percentage and rate as well as seedling vigour index and reduced mean germination time under salinity. ‘Paya’ and ‘Aria’ genotypes had a superiority according to the germination percentage and seedling vigour index, respectively. The hydropriming of ‘Paya’ genotype resulted in the highest germination percentage (95%) under high level of salinity (12 dS/m) which 11.84% increase compared to the control treatment. Hydropriming of ‘Sina’ seeds showed the highest chlorophyll a and total, and carotenoids under non-stress conditions (22.89, 31.65, and 2116.6 µg/g FW). Also, hydropriming by increases chlorophyll b content led to the modulation of the negative effects of high salinity stress (12 dS/m). In conclusion, different seed priming treatments in sugar beet seeds improved the salinity tolerance by physiological characteristics nonetheless hydropriming was the most effective treatment to get higher germination indices in ‘Paya’ and ‘Aria’ genotypes.