Azadeh Pagard; Mohammad Rreza Zare-Bavani; Seyed Abdollah Eftekhari
Abstract
Boron deficiency is a prevalent challenge for plant nutrition supply in many alkaline/calcareous soils. The current research aimed to examine the effects of boron supply to bell pepper plants through fertigation and foliar application. The experiment had seven treatments, comprising a control group, ...
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Boron deficiency is a prevalent challenge for plant nutrition supply in many alkaline/calcareous soils. The current research aimed to examine the effects of boron supply to bell pepper plants through fertigation and foliar application. The experiment had seven treatments, comprising a control group, boric acid as fertigation (0.5, 1, and 2 g L-1), and foliar application (0.5, 1, and 2 g L-1) with three replications in controlled greenhouse conditions. The treatments were applied on Lorca bell peppers in a completely randomized design. The results showed that fertigation and foliar application increased all measured characteristics compared to the control group. Increasing the boric acid concentration in foliar application caused a decrease in fruit count per plant, fruit fresh weight, fruit yield per plant, and fruit width. Both fertigation and foliar boric acid applications at a low level (0.5 g L-1) and as separate treatments caused the highest fruit weight, length, width, and fruit count per plant. Higher boric acid concentrations increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, leaf carotenoid content, soluble sugars, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenols, and fruit ascorbic acid content. The highest chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, leaf carotenoid content, and fruit ascorbic acid were observed in response to the high concentration of boric acid foliar application (2 g L-1). Overall, the boron supplement as a foliar application (0.5 to 1 g L-1) or fertigation (0.5 to 1 g L-1) improved quantitative and qualitative performance in bell peppers.
Musa Ibrahim Saheed; Ikhajiagbe Beckley; Geoffrey O. Anoliefo; Alexander O. Orukpe
Abstract
The Earth has become increasingly overcrowded as a result of rapid urbanization and population growth, with strong predictions that its carrying capacity could be overstretched soon. As a result, it is important to test the possibilities of growing plants under space exploration conditions, especially ...
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The Earth has become increasingly overcrowded as a result of rapid urbanization and population growth, with strong predictions that its carrying capacity could be overstretched soon. As a result, it is important to test the possibilities of growing plants under space exploration conditions, especially gravitational balance. Since microgravity impedes plant development, it is important to evaluate the extents by which plant growth stimulators can reverse or enhance this trend. A total of 12 maize seeds were weighed and placed sideways in petri dishes and inoculated with plant growth stimulators, indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), and ascorbate (AA). They were clinorotated at different rates (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 rpm), while the control seeds were just placed on a balanced table. Results of this research showed that under microgravity, the maize seeds had a decreased level of germination percentage with increasing clinorotation rates at 72 hrs, compared to the control group. But when stimulated with IAA, GA and AA, they improved in germination percentage, compared to the control, even under microgravity conditions. The seedling dry weight, germination time and other germination parameters also showed similar improvements. Comparatively, the three growth stimulators showed no major variations in their ability to improve germination percentage under micro-gravitational impact. However, IAA caused more improvements in seedling vigor, compared to the other growth regulators, while GA had more effects on the rate of germination. This research confirmed the possibilities of improving germinability in maize seeds under space exploration conditions.
Mana Mombeini; Naser Alamzadeh Ansari; Vahid Abdossi; Abdali Naseri
Abstract
Seed priming is one of the most important measures in propagation of plants by seed, which leads to increase of percentage and rate of germination. This study was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design on two farm cucumber cultivars (‘Impress’ and ‘Emperor’). ...
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Seed priming is one of the most important measures in propagation of plants by seed, which leads to increase of percentage and rate of germination. This study was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design on two farm cucumber cultivars (‘Impress’ and ‘Emperor’). Priming treatments were silicic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AsA) at three levels of 50, 100 and 150 mg L-1, pyridoxine at three levels of 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% and compound treatment (SA 75 mg L-1 + AsA 75 mg L-1 + pyridoxine 0.03%). There was a positive and significant correlation between the Catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in the radicle and plumule and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in the radicle and germination rate and percentage. In the ‘Impress’ cultivar, the highest CAT activity in the radical and plumule was observed after using of 150 mg L-1 AsA. The highest activity of Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in the radical was detected after using of 0.04% pyridoxine. In the ‘Emperor’ cultivar, the highest CAT enzyme activity was detected in the radical and plumule, respectively by using of 75 mg L-1 AsA, 75 mg L-1 SA, and 0.03% pyridoxine. AsA (50 mg L-1) induced the highest activity of PPO enzyme in the radicle. Finally, to increase the antioxidant enzyme activity in cucumbers against unfavourable environmental conditions, our results confirmed the effectiveness of 150 mg L-1 AsA and 0.04% pyridoxine for the ‘Impress’ cultivar and the compound treatment and 50 mg L-1 AsA for the ‘Emparator’ cultivar.
Marzieh Babashpour-Asl; Marzieh Piryaei
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the amount of flavonoids, anthocyanins, total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity of the peel and pulp of the quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) in the polar and nonpolar sub-fractions of methanol extracts with two extraction methods, Soxhlet and microwave. ...
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This study aimed to determine the amount of flavonoids, anthocyanins, total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity of the peel and pulp of the quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) in the polar and nonpolar sub-fractions of methanol extracts with two extraction methods, Soxhlet and microwave. The antioxidant properties were assessed by the ability to quench the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and β-carotene bleaching assays. The results showed that the Soxhlet method extracted higher amount of the phytochemicals. In the DPPH system, the highest radical scavenging activity was seen by the polar sub-fraction of the methanol extract in the peel of quince fruit (IC50=52±7.3 μg/mL). Among all the extracts analyzed, the polar sub-fraction of the peel extract exhibited a significantly higher total flavonoid (62.33±3.1 mg CTE/100 g), anthocyanin (1.54±0.24 μg C-3-GE/100 mg fresh weight), phenolic content (108.14 μg GAE/mg) and antioxidant activity than other samples with Soxhlet extraction method. Fruit has a number of bioactive ingredients and many of them were concentrated in the peel of the fruit rather than the flesh. Therefore, enjoy the benefits that unpeeled fruit offers! The present study revealed that the peel of quince fruit has higher phytochemicals and antioxidant properties when compared to the pulp.
Hamed Shokri Heydari; Mohammad Ali Askari Sarcheshmeh; Mesbah Babalar; Taha Ranjbar Malidarreh; Ahmad Ahmadi
Abstract
Peach is a highly corrosive fruit with a short shelf life (less than 7 days at room temperature)susceptible to diseases, pathogens and physical damage. The storage or marketable life ofhorticultural crops can be extended by various treatments applied to them after and/or beforeharvesting. Fruits are ...
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Peach is a highly corrosive fruit with a short shelf life (less than 7 days at room temperature)susceptible to diseases, pathogens and physical damage. The storage or marketable life ofhorticultural crops can be extended by various treatments applied to them after and/or beforeharvesting. Fruits are usually treated with a range of materials [(e.g. salicylic acid (SA)] toimprove their appearance or delay deterioration. In the present study, effects of pre-harvesttreatment of SA (1, 2, and 4 mM) and iron sequestrine (Fe) (5 and 10 mg L-1) on antioxidantcapacity, ion leakage, ethylene production, ascorbic acid and carotenoids content of peachfruit (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Za'ferani) were examined. The results showed that Fe andSA treatments are effective methods for alleviating ion leakage, weight loss and ethyleneproduction in peach fruit during cold storage. Application of 4.0 mM SA and 10.0 mg L-1 Fewere the most effective treatments to maintain fruits quality parameters. SA and Fe treatmentsmaintained peach fruits quality parameters until 40 days. These results suggest that the SAand Fe treatment are useful materials with potential postharvest application for reducingethylene production, maintain quality, and improve the health benefits of peach fruit byincreasing its antioxidant capacity.
Mohammad Aminifard; Hassan Bayat
Abstract
In this study effect of application of food waste vermicomposts to soil on antioxidant compounds, fruit yield and quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) were investigated in field condition. Four vermicompost levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) were applied to soil based on a randomized complete block ...
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In this study effect of application of food waste vermicomposts to soil on antioxidant compounds, fruit yield and quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) were investigated in field condition. Four vermicompost levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) were applied to soil based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the highest (21.87 kg m2)and lowest (14.69 kg m2)fruit yield were achieved in plants treated with 5 t/ha vermicompost and control, respectively.Vermicompost treatments positively influenced fruit antioxidant compounds (antioxidant activity, total phenolic, carbohydrate content and total flavonoid). The highest antioxidant activity (81%) and carbohydrate content were obtained in plants treated with 10 t/ha vermicompost, while their lowest values were recorded in the control plants. Fruit quality indices (pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and fruit firmness) were significantly influenced by vermicompost treatments. However, no significant difference was found for total soluble solids between treatments. There were 40, 61 and 56% increase in the amount of Titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content and fruit firmness following application of vermicompost (15 t/ha) when compared to their values in control, respectively. In conclusion, soil application of vermicompost can positively influence antioxidant compounds, fruit yield and quality of pepper.
Farid Moradinezhad; Fatemeh Setayesh; Sohrab Mahmoodi; Mehdi Khayyat
Abstract
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit is an important medicinal plant in Iran. The harvesting time is a crucial for jujube fruit quality. Several characteristics of jujube fruit when harvested at four development stages; white mature (light green), crisp mature (white-red), fully mature (red) and fully ...
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Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit is an important medicinal plant in Iran. The harvesting time is a crucial for jujube fruit quality. Several characteristics of jujube fruit when harvested at four development stages; white mature (light green), crisp mature (white-red), fully mature (red) and fully ripe (dehydrated brown) were evaluated. Fruit weight, diameter, volume, pulp to stone ratio, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, total phenolics content, protein, ash and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were determined. The results showed that fruit dry weight, TSS, TSS/TA were increased significantly, while firmness, protein content and ash weight were decreased as jujube fruit harvested at progressed development stages. Ascorbic acid in fruit was decreased from white to crisp mature stage and thereafter increased significantly to fully mature stage. However, the content of total phenol increased significantly from white to crisp mature stage and thereafter decreased at more maturity and ripening stages. Moreover, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were influenced by harvesting time. The F0 and Fm showed a positive significant correlation with total phenolic, ascorbic acid and protein content and a negative significant correlation with DW. Therefore, chlorophyll fluorescence maybe a helpful, nondestructive technique to evaluate the nutritional quality changes in jujube fruit. Overall, jujube fruit harvested at crisp (white-red) and fully mature (red) stages, seem best in respect of postharvest handling and nutritional criteria.
