Zahra Heidari; Mohammad Javad Nazarideljou; Younes Rezaie Danesh; Nabi Khezrinejad
Abstract
Water deficit conditions, in addition to reduced water uptake, result in a reduction in nutrient uptake, and consequently, a substantial reduction in growth parameters, yield and quality. Substrate inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as an environmentally friendly biofertilizer is an ...
Read More
Water deficit conditions, in addition to reduced water uptake, result in a reduction in nutrient uptake, and consequently, a substantial reduction in growth parameters, yield and quality. Substrate inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as an environmentally friendly biofertilizer is an important strategy to improve the growth parameters and quality of products in such conditions. Therefore, an experiment was conducted on zinnia, under different irrigation regimes (40, 70 and 100% of field capacity; FC) and different substrate inoculation levels with Glomus mosseae (0, 2.5 and 5%), in order to examine their possible symbiosis and root colonization on morphophysiological and biochemical parameters in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed the positive and significant effects of AMF on morphophysiological traits under all irrigation regimes compared to the control treatment (without AMF) such as flower longevity and antiradical properties. With increased drought stress, root:shoot ratio, flower diameter, flower longevity, water use efficiency (WUE), the chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake were significantly decreased, while the decreasing trends of these parameters were much lower in pots treated with AMF. The lowest cell membrane stability and highest free radicals were observed in 40% FC without AMF. The maximum antiradical and antioxidant properties occurred at the lowest irrigation level with the highest AMF inoculation level. The results indicated a significant increase in flower diameter and longevity, in 70% FC with 5% AMF inoculation treatment compared to the control. Compared with the control, WUE was significantly increased at a 5% AMF inoculation level.
Sonia Bahremand; Jamshid Razmjoo; Homaun Farahmand
Abstract
Tuberose (Polianthus tuberosa) is a commercially important cut flower; but its longevity and quality characteristics are compromised by stress during storage and transportation. Thus, it is important to determine the most appropriate preservative solution to best maintained cut flowers. Tests were done ...
Read More
Tuberose (Polianthus tuberosa) is a commercially important cut flower; but its longevity and quality characteristics are compromised by stress during storage and transportation. Thus, it is important to determine the most appropriate preservative solution to best maintained cut flowers. Tests were done to examine the effects on of nano-silver (NS) (0, 15, 30 and 45 mg L-1) and sucrose (0, 4 and 8%) on the quality properties of fresh weight, relative water content, water uptake, total soluble solids, wilting percentage, flower opening and flower longevity. Results showed that averages of evaluations for flower longevity, open flower and stem diameter, fresh weight and relative water content increased under sucrose application and that those for while flower longevity, open flower and stem diameter, water uptake, fresh weight and relative water uptake were increased by NS application. However, applications of 4% sucrose or 45 mg L-1 NS treatments enhanced all measured parameters, with only a few exceptions. These parameters were further increased under the treatment of sucrose at 4% combined with 45 mg L-1 NS, suggesting that the quality of tuberose cut flowers can be improved by treatment with a combination of sucrose and NS.