IntroductionGrowth regulators play a vital role in developmental stages of plants and their use can be improved the yield of crops. One of the most important compounds that used as growth regulators in recent years is salicylic acid. The application of salicylic acid in the activation of systemic acquired resistance, and metabolite synthesis and antioxidant enzymes has been proved. Also, salicylic acid as a natural compound has potential to prevent ethylene production and its effect. In order to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid in different concentration on yield and oils content of Ziziphora, a split plot experiment with three replications during 2014-2015 in the field of Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad laboratories was conducted. Materials and MethodsThis research was conducted during 2014-2015 under field conditions in a split plot design in time, at Shirvan Agricultural Research Station (latitude 40 º / 37, longitude 93 º / 57 and with a height of 1097 m above sea level) and in laboratory Department of Horticultural Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Each plot had an area of 4 square meters in furrow planting way which the distance between rows were 50 cm and on rows 15 cm and were carried out on 25 March 2014. Irrigation was carried out immediately after planting, and a second irrigation was done 20 days later, once the seeds had germinated. Irrigation and weed control are also done manually once a week. Salicylic acid (Sigma Aldrich, 99.5%) in the three phases of plant growth (The onset of vegetative growth, throughout vegetative growth, and at the flowering stage), at concentrations (0, 10-2, 10-4 and 10-6 M) in three repeats were sprayed. The first spraying (The onset of vegetative growth) was done on April 3, 2014, the second spraying (throughout vegetative growth) on May 4, and the third (at the flowering stage) in early June 2014. The plants were harvested on July 20. To measure the dry weight of the plants, the samples were dried in the shade for a week. Essential oil content was determined using a 30-gram dry sample in 500 ml of water through hydro-distillation with a Clevenger apparatus for 4 hours. For biochemical characteristics first samples extract were obtained. To prepare extracts, dry samples were milled then one gram of each sample was transferred to the 50 ml Erlen and 10 ml of 80% methanol was added and shaken for 24 hours. After 24 hours the extract was filtered using filter paper then used for measuring phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. Phenol measurement: phenolic content was measured using the Folin reagent. In 5.0 mL of each extract (10 milligrams per ml) 5.2 ml Folin reagent was added. After five minutes, 300 ml of a molar sodium carbonate solution is added and maintained in a 40 °C bath for 30 minutes. The sample absorbance at 760 nm was measured by a spectrophotometer against the blank. Gallic acid was used as the standard for calibration curve. Flavonoids measurement: Flavonoid content of the samples were measured using aluminum chloride reagent. In 5.0 ml of methanol extract (10 milligrams per ml), 5.1 ml of methanol, 1.0 ml of 10% aluminum chloride, 1.0 ml of a molar potassium acetate and 8.2 ml of distilled water was added. The mixture kept in dark for 30 minutes and absorbance at a wavelength of 415 nm was read against the blank. Quercetin was used as the standard for calibration curve evaluation. JMP statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results and DiscussionBased on the results, the application of salicylic acid significantly affected fresh and dry weight, plant height, and phenol and flavonoid content (P < 0.01), but had no significant effect on essential oil percentage or yield. The highest fresh weight (264.763 grams per square meter) and dry weight (93.11 grams per square meter) were obtained with the application of 10⁻² molar salicylic acid during vegetative growth, while the lowest fresh and dry herb yields were observed in the control group. Maximum height of plants (29.01 cm) was related to 10-2 M salicylic acid during vegetative growth and the lowest of plant height (23/24 cm) was related to control treatment at the time of flowering. The highest amount of phenols (0.504 mg equivalents gallic acid per gram of dry weight) was detected in plants treated with 10-2 M salicylic acid during vegetative growth and the lowest phenols (0.248 mg equivalents gallic acid per gram of dry weight) was reported in 10-2M salicylic acid and during vegetative growth. The highest amount of flavonoids (0.31 mg equivalent Quercetin per gram of dry weight) was obtained in 10-4 M salicylic acid treatments during vegetative growth and the lowest of them (0.176 mg equivalent Quercetin per gram of dry weight) was in 10-6 M salicylic acid treatment at the beginning of vegetative growth. ConclusionsIn conclusion the results showed that the highest amount of fresh and dry weight and plant height was under the conditions of 10-2 M salicylic acid concentration and during vegetative growth and the best yield of essential oils, phenols and flavonoids in during vegetative growth and 10-4M salicylic acid concentration was obtained.
Introduction Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars of late bloom is one of the most important goals of almond breeding programs. The correct choice of almond rootstock causes better management of the garden, compatibility with all types of soil and resistance to nematodes. Peach × almond hybrid has been the most widely used rootstock in both dry and irrigated conditions in the past years. Creating an orchard by selecting grafted genotypes on suitable rootstock for sustainable cultivation of almonds is particularly important. Cultivation of superior genotypes grafted on fruit trees has an effect on pomological characteristics, yield and quality of nuts. The requirement for the introduction and production of superior cultivars is an accurate selection between cultivars, which is possible through the identification of cultivars and their diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the most important vegetative, phenological, quantitative, and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels in 36 promising cultivars and genotypes grafted onto GN15 rootstock, with the goal of identifying and introducing superior cultivars. Materials and Methods In this research, 36 promising almond cultivars and genotypes on GN15 rootstock were investigated in garden conditions in terms of various vegetative traits, nut and kernel characteristics in order to obtain suitable commercial cultivars. This research was conducted at the Badam research station in Saman region affiliated to the Center for Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cultivars and genotypes studied are presented in Table 1. Vegetative traits of tree height, canopy length, canopy width, and branch length were measured by meter in the garden, and rootstock diameter, scion diameter, and branch diameter were measured in the garden with calipers. In order to measure the nut and kernels, 100 fruits were harvested from each of the studied cultivars and genotypes at the time of fruit ripening, and their green shell was separated and dried. Measurement of traits such as length, width, diameter of nut and kernel was done by digital caliper and weight of nut and kernel was measured by digital scale with accuracy of 0.01. Coding of some traits was done based on almond descriptor (Gülcan, 1985) with some changes. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS software (version 3.1.9). To compare the means, Duncan's multiple range test was used at the 5% probability level. Table 1- Promising cultivars and genotypes examined in this study (based on the sent label of the scion) Cultivar/genotype Cultivar/genotype code Cultivar/genotype Cultivar/genotype code TS-16 GA1 2-29 (D7) GA 19 D GA 2 100-1-1 GA 20 TS-21 GA 3 2-0-4 GA 21 TS-14 GA 4 3-1-4 GA 22 Aviz GA 5 TS-18 GA 23 A8 GA 6 D2 GA 24 B8 GA 7 TS-30 GA 25 100-1-8-1 GA8 1306 (Tabriz genotype) GA 26 2-3-2 GA 9 AH2 (Tabriz genotype) GA 27 TS-11 GA 10 108 (Tabriz genotype) GA28 ( 1/16) 1-16 GA 11 Yalda GA29 3-1-15 GA 12 Saba GA 30 13-40 GA 13 Shamshiri (Shahrekord) GA 31 TS1 GA 14 AY (Shahrekord) GA 32 8-35 GA 15 Mamaei GA 33 85 GA 16 AN2 (Shahrekord) GA 34 35 GA 17 AN4 (Shahrekord) GA 35 B6 GA 18 AN5 (Shahrekord) GA 36 Results and Discussion According to the results of analysis of variance (ANOVA), there was a statistically significant difference at the level of 1% between the attributes of tree height, canopy width, rootstock and scion diameter, branch length and diameter, and the ratio of tree height to canopy length. (P<0.01). The results of variance analysis show that there is a significant difference between the investigated nut and kernel traits in promising cultivars and genotypes grafted on GN (Table 5). These differences show the diversity in the investigated traits and it is possible to choose cultivars for different values of the same trait. Based on the average comparison results of the vegetative traits, the highest height in genotypes GA4, GA3, GA35, The highest canopy width was observed in genotypes GA5, GA17, GA3, and GA20, GA15, GA5, the highest diameter of rootstock and scion, and the highest length and diameter of one-year branches were observed in genotype GA18. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. Based on the obtained results, cultivars and genotypes of GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9 and GA1 showed relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The results of this research showed that the GA35 genotype grafted on the GN15 rootstock had the highest length, width and diameter of the nut, and the highest weight of nut and kernel. The kernel color light, the without shrinking the kernel and the highest percentage of kernel and the highest ratio of kernel weight to nut weight. Conclusions The results of this research showed that the examination of vegetative traits, nuts and kernels in the studied cultivars and genotypes could show the diversity between cultivars and genotypes. The results showed that the investigated cultivars and genotypes have significant differences in terms of all nut and kernel traits, which indicates the existence of diversity between the investigated cultivars and genotypes. This indicates that these cultivars and genotypes can be considered a valuable source of germplasm for breeding programs. Cultivars and genotypes with a higher kernel percentage had thinner shells, more patterns on the skin, and light to medium kernel color. Based on the results, the cultivars and genotypes GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9, and GA1 demonstrated relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The research also showed that the GA35 genotype grafted onto GN15 rootstock had the greatest nut length, width, and diameter, as well as the highest nut and kernel weight. Additionally, GA35 had light kernel color, no kernel shrinkage, the highest kernel percentage, and the highest kernel-to-nut weight ratio.
IntroductionTomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family, which is one of the most widely cultivated and economically important vegetables in the world, which is an excellent source of ascorbic acid and has high antioxidant capacity against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a key physiological role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enzyme cofactor. Ascorbic acid is antioxidant and anti-stress agent, and also acts as a signaling molecule in some plant physiological processes and defense mechanisms. Positive roles of such antioxidants in scavenging or chelating the free radicals and activating the natural resistance against different biotic and abiotic stresses have been reported in several fruit trees. Calcium has a vital role for normal growth and development of plants due to an important role in balancing membrane structures, increasing nutrient uptakes and activates of metabolic processes. Calcium plays a vital role in maintains cell wall stability, integrity and determining the fruit quality. To our knowledge, however, little information is available regarding the interaction effect of ascorbic acid and calcium chloride on tomato. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the foliar application of ascorbic acid and calcium chloride on quality and antioxidant capacity of tomato fruit. Materials and MethodsTo study the effect of foliar application of calcium chloride (Ca) and Ascorbic acid (AsA) on growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato, the field experiment was carried out from June to September 2021 at Research farm of faculty of Agriculture, at the University of Zanjan, Iran. Each treatment was carried out with three replicates. Different concentrations of Ca (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 %) and AsA (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg.l-1) were sprayed three times (0, 15, 30 days after full bloom). Fruits were harvested at two harvests stage (orange and red color) and transferred to the laboratory on the same day. Flesh firmness was determined with penetrometer (model Mc Cormic FT 32), using an 8 mm penetrating tip. Results were expressed in kg cm-2. The pH values of solutions were monitored with pH meter. TSS was measured in the extract obtained from three fruit of each replicate with a digital refractometer Atago PR-101 (Atago Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) at 20◦C. Total ascorbic acid content was expressed as mg per 100 g of juice. Antioxidant activity was measured using the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and calculated according to the following formula: RSA%= 100(Ac-As)/Ac. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software package v. 20.0 for Windows, and means comparison were separated by Duncan’s multiple range tests at p< 0.05. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that fruit harvested at red color stage had higher vitamin C, total soluble solid (TSS), total phenol, flavonoids contents and antioxidant capacity compared to fruit harvested at orange color stage. Foliar application of AsA and Ca had significantly improved tomato fruit quality. The highest value of TSS (4.9 °B), vitamin C (46.1 mg.100 ml-1), total phenol and flavonoids contents and antioxidant capacity (36%) was achieved with application of 300 mg.l-1 AsA and 0.9% Ca in fruit harvested at red color harvest time. The lowest value of pH and highest TA was observed in red color fruit treated with 300 mg.l-1 AsA and all Ca levels. Ca had significant effect on fruit firmness, which the highest fruit firmness was obtained from 0.9% Ca. The fresh tomato is an important source of ascorbic acid for human consumption. AsA significantly increased the amount of vitamin C in the plum and sweet pepper fruits. Increasing vitamin C content in fruits after treatment with Ca could be related to inhibiting action of calcium on the activities of ascorbic acid oxidase that use ascorbate as a substrate. The results indicated that treatment of Ca produced fruits with higher firmness compared to control and other treatments. Firmness and resistance to softening can be increased by the addition of Ca, due to interaction of calcium with pectate acid in the cell wall to form calcium pectate and retarding polygalacturonase activity. Differences in the percentage of TSS content at the time of harvest indicated the AsA and Ca effects on carbohydrate accumulation in fruits, which had different potential on respiration rates and consequently storability of plants. The antioxidant activity has positive correlation with total phenolic content, flavonoids and content of ascorbic acid. ConclusionsThe results of our research indicated that per-harvest foliar application of AsA and Ca improved fruit quality attributes including vitamin C, fruit firmness, TSS and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that AsA and Ca treatments, especially AsA 300 mg.l-1 and Ca 0.9%, may be proposed to improve fruit quality.
Introduction Bud dormancy is one of the important issues in planting and cultivation of fruit trees that needs to be addressed in many trees such as orange (Citrus sinensis). Bud dormancy involves cessation of horizontal and vertical growth, lack of budbreak, and reduction in plant activity during cold weather. One of the commercial orange cultivars is Tarocco blood orange which compared to older blood cultivars, is larger in size and with lower alternate bearing has higher marketability. The nursery trees of this cultivar are grafted on sour orange, citrange, and vigorous rootstock of citrumelo (a hybrid between trifoliate orange and grapefruit) (Talon et al., 2020). One of the major problems of nurserymen in spring grafting of Tarocco cultivar on vigorous citrumelo rootstock is the failure of about 50 percent of buds to break compared to other cultivars on the same rootstock and other similar rootstocks. This unwanted dormancy leads to a one-year delay in the nursery tree production process and unnecessary occupation of nursery space. Given the commercial importance of blood orange and the adverse effects of bud dormancy on yield and fruit lifetime, solutions are used to control and overcome this problem. One of the effective solutions is the application of cytokinins which can stimulate the growth of graft buds (Yadav & Saini, 2018). Materials and Methods This research was conducted in a citrus nursery at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Sari, in late May 2022. Citrumelo seedlings were grown in 5.3 liter pots containing a loamy-silt soil mix in the nursery location. Tarocco cultivar buds were prepared from a seven-year-old mother orchard and T-budding was performed in June (during rootstock bark slipping). All hormone treatments were applied after graft union and before bending the branch using a soft brush on the graft buds. The applied treatments included hormone treatment (control, 5000 mg.l-1 benzyladenine, 1000 mg.l-1 kinetin, and 50 mg.l-1 thidiazuron) and treatment time (13, 15, and 17 days after grafting). After two months, some traits related to budbreak and growth of the grafted buds were evaluated. Results and Discussion The results showed that thidiazuron and benzyladenine treatments had better effects compared to kinetin treatment on spring budbreak and initial growth of Tarocco grafted buds. In a way that 50 mg.l-1 thidiazuron treatment had the highest number of sprouted buds (67.91), largest leaf area (118.04 cm2), highest number of leaves (16.50), especially when applied 13 days after grafting. Also, in leaf size related traits, leaf area indices, graft growth rate as well as chlorophyll and carotenoid content of Tarocco graft leaves were significantly affected by different hormonal treatments and application times, with 50 mg.L-1 thidiazuron being more effective than other treatments. Cytokinins can promote division and expansion of leaf cells and thereby result in increased cell numbers and improvement of different leaf parameters. Also, cytokinins regulate important physiological processes like photosynthesis. Application of these materials provides cell division especially in areas like buds and growth points and also possibly more buds may form on the spring graft by using these treatments during the grafting process which can lead to increased bud break and faster plant growth (Cook & Bahar, 2017). Increasing cytokinin levels can stimulate the photosynthesis process which results in increased food production, leaf growth and ultimately increased leaf area. On the other hand, cytokinins affect plant metabolism and can regulate production and accumulation of different growth factors. This may lead to a better balance in nutrient distribution and metabolic activities which in turn aids leaf area increase (Hodchek et al., 2023). Finally, according to the obtained results, it can be recommended to nurserymen of this cultivar to use 50 mg.L-1 thidiazuron 13 days after grafting as a practical and effective strategy for increasing spring budbreak, growth and development of Tarocco buds grafted on citrumelo. Conclusions In general, based on the results, the application of 50 mg.l-1 of thidiazuron 13 days after grafting can be considered a practical and effective strategy to enhance bud awakening, as well as the growth and development of Tarocco spring shoots on citronmelo. This practice is recommended for producers of seedlings of this cultivar.
Introduction Considering the sensitivity of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) to viruses, the production of virus-free plants through in vitro cultivation and their propagation leads to a reduction in costs and an increase in yield. One of the effective methods of reducing plant diseases and producing disease-free microtubers is the use of in-vitro production methods. Considering the role and importance of macro elements and micro elements in the growth of microtubers, it is possible to change the composition of MS culture medium by changing the concentration of salts of macro elements and micro elements without disturbing the balance of elements. This experiment aims to investigate the effect of different concentrations of macro elements (2 Mac, Mac, ½ Mac) and micro elements (2 Mic, Mic, ½ Mic) of MS culture medium in combination with two concentrations of sucrose (80 and 160 g.l-1) was performed on in vitro micronodulation of Agria potato. Materials and Methods This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of macroelements (2 Mac, Mac, ½ Mac) and microelements (2 Mic, Mic, ½ Mic) in the MS culture medium, combined with two sucrose concentrations (80 and 160 g.l-1), on in vitro microtuberization of Agria potato. The study was conducted as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz. Lateral buds obtained from in-vitro shoots were used as explants and were cultured under sterile conditions on different culture mediums for the purpose of microtuberation, and the cultures were kept in continuous darkness and at a temperature of 18±2°C were kept in the growth room. During one month, Microtuber initiation rate and after two months, microtuber formation characteristics were measured. Results and Discussion The results of the analysis of variance showed that the effect of the concentration of micro elements and the interaction effects of micro elements with different concentrations of sucrose and macro elements were significant only in the case of two traits, the percentage and the speed of microtuber initiation, while all microtuber traits productivity was significantly affected by the interaction of micro elements and macro elements. In all culture mediums with 8% sucrose, the initiation percentage of microtubers was 100% and the initiation rate was also maximum. However, the highest percentage of microtuber formation, weight, length, diameter and number of buds on microtuber was obtained in 2Mac culture medium with 16% sucrose. The results showed that the microtuber that had more weight and size had a higher percentage of dormancy and the buds on the microtuber were not able to germinate and produce microtuber during the stages of microtuber formation. Conclusions For all traits related to microtubers, except for the percentage and speed of microtuber initiation, the effects of microelements, macroelements, and sucrose were not significant. This indicates that the three factors investigated do not independently enhance microtuber formation in the Agria variety. Regarding micronodulation traits, the interaction effect of low-consumption elements with the other two factors was also not significant, suggesting that the concentration of low-consumption elements is not critical for micronodulation in the Agria variety. In all culture media with 8% sucrose, the initiation percentage of microtubers reached 100%, and the initiation speed was at its maximum. However, when the concentration of macroelements was doubled and 16% sucrose was used, both the initiation percentage and speed of microgland formation in the Agria variety showed a significant decrease. The percentage of microtuber formation, weight, length, diameter and number of buds on the microtuber in Agria cultivar were significantly affected by the mutual effect of the concentration of macro elements and sucrose, and the 2 Mac culture medium has 16% sucrose in the first priority and the ½ culture medium Mac with 8 % sucrose in the second priority was better than the other treatments in terms of the investigated traits. In this research, it was found that the produced microglands with greater weight and size had a higher percentage of dormancy and during the stages of microglandogenesis, the buds on the microtubers were not able to germinate and produce microtubers.
