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Although the Cornelian Cherry is widely grown in the north-eastern areas of Iran, it is not recognized as an important fruit crop as are many other fruit species. Large variability has been observed in all morphological and chemical compositions under study. Fruit weight varied from 1.499 to 3.29 g, whereas seed weight ranged from 0.249 to 0.425 g. The average lengths of fruits were between 15.22 and 22.31 mm, and the average widths of them were between 10.26-16.3 mm. The content of ascorbic acid ranged from 240-360 mg/ 100 g fresh weight. The total soluble solids and total acidity were 5-12.5% and 0.43-1.86% respectively. Grouping of Cornelian Cherry accessions based on 5 factors was performed and were divided into three sub-clusters. The results obtained from this study might be helpful for Cornelian Cherry breeders trying to develop new genotypes and varieties.

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants under low temperature stress causes damage to plants. In order to evaluate the antioxidant responses of Thomson navel young trees (two years old) on different rootstocks under low temperatures, an experiment was conducted in a factorial plan based on completely randomized design. Treatments of temperatures were at seven levels including 9, 6, 3, 0, -3, -6 , and 25 ± 2 (as control) and rootstocks were Sour orange, Citrange and Trifoliate orange. Results of interactive effects of factors showed that electrolyte leakage (EL), antioxidant capacity, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity were significant at P < 0.01. Maximum EL was observed in Thomson navel on Sour orange at -6 , while the highest antioxidant capacity, CAT and APX activity respectively with mean 75.06%, 0.45 and 4.350 IU g -1 FW were observed in Thomson navel on Trifoliate orange rootstock at 0, -3 and 0 . Low temperatures increased EL, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), APX, CAT and peroxidase enzyme activities (P < 0.01). Due to effects of rootstock, lipid peroxidation reduced to 52 % (P < 0.01). The biochemical and physiological study of this experiment indicated that Thomson navel on Trifoliate orange rootstock, had best tolerance to freezing stress.Additional key words: citrus, enzyme, lipid peroxidation Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 52(6):576-580. 2011.

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Primula heterochroma is a scarce and endemic plant to the north of Iran. The aim of the present study is to establish an efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro propagation from shoot tips. Native seeds were exposed to different treatments. Germination results showed that the scarification of seeds had significant effects on the germination delay and germination percentage compared to plant growth regulator treatments. Afterwards, the seedling-derived shoot tips were cultured on several Murashige and Skoog basal medium, containing various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ) in combination with various concentrations of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The result showed that the highest shoot regeneration, and the number and length of leaves were noticeably affected by media enriched with 1 mg L -l BA + 0.4 mg L -l NAA and 0.2 mg L -l TDZ + 0.4 mg L -1 NAA. Root parameters significantly affected by media enriched with 1 mg L -1 BA + 0.8 mg L -1 NAA and 0.4 mg L -1 TDZ + 0.8 mg L -1 NAA. Plantlets were hardened-off and transferred to soil for further growth.Additional key words: in vitro propagation, plant growth regulators, primula spp., rare plant, shoot regeneration Hort. Environ. Biotechnol. 52 (3):298-302. 2011.

Alstroemeria with beautiful and long shelf life of cut flower is one of the most important ornamental plants. This plant could propagate by splitting of the in vivo produced rhizomes but the propagation rate is rather low. In the present study, regeneration ability of plantlets was compared using in vitro and in vivo grown rhizome buds as explants. In vitro and in vivo grown rhizome buds were cultured on MS basal medium with 3 different compositions of growth regulators (1, 0.2 mg l-1 NAA with 1 mg l-1 BA and 0.2 mg l-1 IAA with 1 mg l-1 BA). Cultures were incubated in 18 ± 1°C at 16 h photoperiod. Four subculture of explants were done on the same fresh media with 3 weeks intervals. The results showed that in vivo rhizome bud produced the largest number of small rhizome and roots on medium containing 0.2 mg l-1 NAA with 1 mg l-1 BA.

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