University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Effect of Drying Method on Volatile Nutraceuticals and Microbial Growth in Moringa oleifera3153228217710.22059/ijhst.2021.313592.411ENDennisMaina GatahiDepartment of agricultural sciences, Karatina University, Karatina, KenyaFelixNyoroDepartment of Occupational Safety and Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, KenyaJournal Article20201112Fresh<em> Moringa oleifera</em> leaves are very rich in phytonutrients, however the leaves are also highly perishable and require processing for increased shelf-life. The method of processing, specifically drying affects the nutritional value of the product. The present study therefore, analyzed the nutraceutical value and growth of toxic microbes when the leaves were dried under different conditions i.e. room temperature, greenhouse, 50% shade net, and in the oven at 60 <sup>o</sup>C for 4 h. The experiments were carried out at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The treatments were applied in triplicate and arranged on a completely randomized design (CRD). Data on nutritional value of dried Moringa leaves was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parameterization and means separated using protected LSD<sub>0.05</sub>. The study showed that drying Moringa leaves under shade, room and greenhouse conditions significantly (P<0.05) affects the nutritional value of the product. The results showed highest levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, polyphenols and terpenoids when the leaves were dried under 50% shade net and room temperature conditions. In contrast, the glucosinolate content was significantly (P<0.05) higher when the leaves were dried instantly in the oven (9.1%/wt), followed by drying under greenhouse conditions (8.7%/wt) before oven drying. However, drying of Moringa leaves under shade before oven drying resulted in growth of toxic microbial organisms such as staphylococcus, yeast, <em>E. coli</em> and molds that can potentially affect the safety of the product. Finally, the drying conditions also significantly (P<0.05) affected the moisture content of the powder obtained. The results of this study form an important reference for small-holder Moringa growers and processors in the development of an optimal processing regime for high value Moringa powder.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Yield and Economic Analyses of Different Mulching Materials for Potato Production3233348217810.22059/ijhst.2021.316115.431ENNamrataGhimireAgriculture and Forestry University, Bharatpur, NepalArvindSrivastavaAgriculture and Forestry University, Bharatpur, NepalDeepakPoudelSenior Agricultutre Officer, Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Government of NepalKamalRaj GaireSenior Agricultutre Officer, Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Government of NepalJournal Article20201202To determine the suitability of different mulching materials for improving the yield of potato,a field experiment was conducted from January 2020 to May 2020 at Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments including: T1: silver plastic mulch, T2: black plastic mulch, T3: perforated black plastic mulch, T4: straw mulch, and T5: Control, with four replications. The experiment revealed that the highest tuber yield was obtained in silver plastic mulch (42.29tonne/ha) followed by perforated black plastic (41.04tonne/ha), black plastic (39.17tonne/ha), and straw (28.54tonne/ha) mulches, and the lowest yield was obtained in the Control treatment (21.46tonne/ha). Soil temperature was found to be influenced by the use of mulching materials with the highest soil temperature recorded under black plastic mulch, whereas the lowest soil temperature was detected under the Control treatment. The economic analysis of using different mulching materials showed the highest benefit/cost ratio by silver plastic mulch (3.63); followed by perforated black plastic mulch (3.53) and the lowest benefit/cost ratio was calculated for the Control (2.60). The present study, therefore, depicted silver plastic mulch followed by perforated black plastic mulch as the most effective mulching material for improving production of potato.
<br /><br />University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Effect of Nitrogen Nutrition on the Intensity of Cercospora Leaf Spot of Mulberry3353428218010.22059/ijhst.2021.309763.393ENChrispoMakheti MutebiKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationDavineAtieno OndedeDepartment of Plant, Animal and Food Science, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and TechnologyJournal Article20200910Leaf spot (<em>Cercospora moricola</em>, Cooke) is a disease that negatively influences the yield of mulberry (<em>Morus alba</em> L.) plants. To determine the effect of nitrogen levels on the incidence and severity of leaf spot an experiment was carried out on mulberry plants. The nitrogen levels included 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, which were applied in two splits coinciding with the two rainy seasons. The study design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Determination of disease intensity involved scoring for disease intensity on a 1-5 Manandhar scale and calculation of the disease incidence were performed by expressing the number of infected leaves as a percentage of the total number of leaves. The values were translated to area under disease progress stairs (AUDPS). The means for AUDPS were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using PRO GLM in SAS and Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) used to partition the means at p≤0.05. The results showed that as the rate of nitrogen application was increased, there was a corresponding decrease in AUDPS for disease incidence and a decrease in AUDPS for disease severity. From the obtained results it can be concluded that nitrogen at an application rate of 200 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> is an effective approach to suppress <em>Cercospora</em> leaf spot of mulberry and can be recommended to the farmers, where this disease is a problem for cultivation of mulberry.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001An Efficient In Vitro Propagation Protocol of Pot Calla Lily (Zantedeschia spp cv. Orania and Sunclub) Via Tuber Production3433518218110.22059/ijhst.2021.317458.436ENElahehHashemidehkordiDepartment of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, IranSeyed NajmmaddinMortazaviDepartment of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, IranPejmanAzadiDepartment of Genetic Engineering and Biosafety, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Karaj, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Iran. Department of Tissue Culture, Ornamental Plants Research Center, Horticultural Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mahallat, Iran0000-0001-7818-1620Journal Article20201201<em>Zantedeschia</em> spp is an important flower in the ornamental plants market. Due to the high demand for this plant in the horticultural industry, it is indispensable to introduce an <em>in vitro</em> protocol for its mass propagation. For this aim, the tubers of calla lily were disinfected in a hot water bath with different temperatures (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 <sup>o</sup>C) and duration (30 or 35 min). Then explants were cultured on MS medium with different combinations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kin). Based on the obtained results, the highest disinfection percentage (more than 90%) was obtained at 45 <sup>o</sup>C for 35 min. Also, the highest proliferation rate (with an average of 15.33 and 14.32 in cv. Orania and cv. Sunclub, respectively) was observed in 2.5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> BAP + 1.5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> Kin. The highest rooting percentage (100% in both cultivars) and root number per explant (with an average of 4.00 and 3.03 in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was obtained in 0.5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) + 0.1 mg L<sup>-1</sup> Kin, but the highest root length (with an average of 120.0 and 106.6 mm in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was observed in 1.0 mg L<sup>-1</sup> IAA + 0.1 mg L<sup>-1</sup> Kin. In MS medium + 2.0 mg L<sup>-1</sup> Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + 4% Sucrose, the highest number of tubers (with an average of 6.66 and 5.21 in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) was formed. The highest fresh and dry weights (with an average of 948.33 and 851.33 mg in cv. Orania and Sunclub, respectively) of tuber were obtained in 2.0 mg L<sup>-1</sup> IBA + 6% sucrose. The rooted and tuberous plants were adapted in the greenhouse successfully.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Impact of Drought Stress on Photosynthetic Response of some Pear Species3533698218210.22059/ijhst.2020.309629.394ENLavinBabaeiDepartment of Horticulture, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, IranMohammad MehdiSharifaniDepartment of Horticulture, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, IranRezaDarvishzadehDepartment of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Urmia University, Urmia, IranNaserAbbaspourDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, IranMashhidHenarehSeed and Plant Improvement Research Department, West Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Urmia, IranJournal Article20201127To investigate photosynthetic response of some pear (<em>Pyrus</em> spp.) species to drought stress, a pot experiment was conducted using as factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replication under greenhouse condition. The factors included five pear species including: <em>P. biossieriana, P. communis, P. glabra, P. salicifolia</em> and<em> P. syriaca</em> and three levels of drought stress [(100%, 60% and 30% of field capacity (FC)]. According to the obtained results, different levels of drought stress significantly restricted morphological and physiological responses in all studied species. Increasing drought stress intensity reduced leaf relative water content (RWC), net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration when compared to their values in control plants. However, root/shoot dry weight ratio, specific leaf weight and stomatal density per unit of area were increased. In <em>P. glabra</em> exposed to severe stress (30% of FC), the values of root/shoot dry weigh ratio (0.85 g), specific leaf weight (23 mg cm<sup>-2</sup>), stomata density per unit of area, relative water content (73%) and net photosynthetic rate (3.9 µmol CO<sub>2</sub> m<sup>-2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup>) were significantly higher than the other species. <em>P. syriaca</em>, <em>P. salicifolia</em>, <em>P. biossieriana</em> and <em>P. communis</em> were placed in the next ranks, respectively based on their response to drought. In conclusion, <em>P. glabra</em> is reported as a more effective species in mitigating the adverse effects of drought by boosting its protective mechanisms than the other pear species.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Flavonolignans of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) Seeds Affected by Fertilization Type and Plant Genotype3713848218410.22059/ijhst.2020.306616.380ENHoushangYadegariFaculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, IranIsaKhammariFaculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, IranBarataliFakheriFaculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, IranAbdorahimNouriFaculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTaghiEbadiFaculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran0000-0003-4979-7367Journal Article20200820The fertilization method and plant genotype are two important factors affecting the active ingredients of medicinal plants. Milk thistle (<em>Silybum marianum </em>L.) is one of the most widely distributed medicinal plants worldwide that its seeds have been used widely for treatment of toxic liver damage. In this research, effects of genotype and fertilization type on the quality of milk thistle seeds were investigated. Seeds of two genotypes of milk thistle (Hungarian (A1) and Iranian (A2) genotypes) were cultured and eight fertilization treatments (F1= control treatment (no fertilizer), F2= cow manure, F3= NPK fertilizer, F4= mycorrhizal (<em>Glomus mosseae</em>) inoculation, F5= combination of nitroxin, bio-sulfur and bio-superphosphate, F6= combination of NPK fertilizer and cow manure, F7= combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and cow manure, F8= nano-iron chelate) were used. Traits such as seed yield, oil content and the amount of flavonolignans in the seeds were measured. The results showed that the maximum seed yield was obtained in A2*F4 treatment (1376.54 kg h<sup>-1</sup>) and the lowest was related to A1*F1 (508.99 kg h<sup>-1</sup>). The average oil content of the samples was about 2.4 mg g<sup>-1</sup> and no significant difference was observed. The results of HPLC analysis showed that the mycorrhizal inoculation (F4) in both genotypes led to the achievement of the maximum amount of most important flavonolignans such as silymarin, taxifolin, silydianin, isosilybin B (18.79, 2.80, 5.02 and 4.73 mg g<sup>-1</sup>, respectively) and an acceptable amount of isosilybin A (2.72 mg g<sup>-1</sup>), but A1*F4 treatment yielded the best results. In conclusion, use of mycorrhizal inoculation is an effective practice for production of milk thistle seeds with high quality.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Evaluation of Yield and Phytochemical Content of Different Iranian Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Ecotypes3854008206010.22059/ijhst.2020.303657.373ENAliAkbarpourDepartment of Horticultural Science, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, IranBijanKavoosiHorticulture Crops Research Department, Fars Agricultural Research and Natural Resource and Education Center, AREEO,
Shiraz, IranMehdiHosseinifarahiSeed and Plant Improvement Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Darab, Iran0000-0002-7398-6902SirousTahmasebiSeed and Plant Improvement Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Darab, Iran.SedighehGholipourDepartment of Chemistry, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran.Journal Article20200530Due to the development of garlic cultivation, quantitative and qualitative evaluations of garlic ecotypes in different regions are important for breeding purposes. In this study, some vegetative and phytochemical traits of eight Iranian garlic ecotypes were assayed in a RCBD with three replications at Darab Agricultural Research Station, Iran during 2017-2018 growing season. The results showed that there is a significant difference among garlic ecotypes in terms of studied traits (P <0.01). In general, Tarom and Tafresh ecotypes showed the highest plant height, number of leaves, length of garlic leaves, leaf width, fresh weight, dry weight and the highest bulb diameter. Highest dry weight of garlic bulb (g) per plant was obtained in Darab (79.0 g), Tarom (75.5 g), and Talesh (75.0 g) ecotypes, with no significant difference among them (P ≥ 0.01). Hamedan and Kerman ecotypes contained higher allicin content, alliin content, TPC, TFC, and TAC than the other ecotypes. Cluster analysis divided ecotypes into three distinct groups. Talesh and Hamedan ecotypes had the lowest similarity (0.34) and Darab and Tafresh ecotypes had the highest similarity (0.97). It can be concluded that Tarom, Tafresh, Hamedan, and Kerman can be recommended for cultivation depending on the quantitative (Tarom and Tafresh) and qualitative (Hamedan and Kerman) goals of cultivationUniversity of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Improving of Winter Cold Hardiness by Glycine Betaine in Strawberry4014138218510.22059/ijhst.2020.298478.348ENHassanSarikhaniDepartment of Horticultural Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran0000-0002-8248-7865Mohammad-SadeghSafariyan-NejadDepartment of Horticultural Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, IranJournal Article20201014One of the most important problems of strawberry cultivation in temperate regions is winter cold injuries. Current study investigated impacts of foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM concentrations on the cold hardiness of strawberry. The plants were divided into two groups: one group for evaluation of cold hardiness at temperatures of -6, -9, -12, -15 and -18 °C; and the other for study of some biochemical characteristics. Results showed that GB treatment increased soluble carbohydrate and proline concentrations in both leaf and crown tissues, total protein concentration in leaf, and relative water content in leaf as compared to those in control. Based on LT<sub>50</sub> calculated from electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining test, the GB application increased cold hardiness in strawberry plant based on its concentration. The highest cold hardiness was found in the 2 mM GB concentration based on electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining tests at -13.3 and -15.3 °C. Meanwhile, the lowest values of cold hardiness were observed in the control treatments based on electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining tests at -10.2 and -11.0 °C. Significant correlations were found between soluble carbohydrate and proline concentrations in leaf and crown, and total protein concentration with LT<sub>50</sub> calculated from electrolyte leakage and tetrazolium staining test. We conclude that application of 2 mM GBhas the capacity to increase the freezing tolerance of strawberry and could be used as a prophylactic tool to reduce winter cold injury.University of Tehran, College of AburaihanInternational Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology2322-14618420211001Grape Seed and Skin Extracts as Natural Preserving Agents on Strawberry Fruit4154298218610.22059/ijhst.2020.296220.336ENParvanehMohammadi-BenaruiyehM. Sc. Horticultural Science Department, Agriculture and Natural Resources College, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, IranGholam RezaSharifi-SirchiDepartment of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran0000-0001-8485-1651Journal Article20201019Concerning highly restricted application of chemicals in postharvest technology of horticultural crops, it is necessary to introduce the safe methods for preserving food or methods of food preservation. This study aimed to improve quality and prolong storage life of strawberry fruit by application of grape seed and fruit skin extracts and to compare them with calcium chloride as a chemical. In this study, strawberry fruit was individually immersed in the 1% and 2% CaCl<sub>2 </sub>solutions, seed and skin extracts (1 and 2 mg L<sup>-1</sup>) and then placed in polyethylene packaging for 24 d at 5±1 °C. Measurements of firmness, titrable acid, pH, weight loss, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic, anthocyanin, vitamin C, enzymes' activity including catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase and decay were carried out at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 d of storage. All applied treatments caused a significant effect on measured parameters including weight loss, titratable acidity, decay percentage and firmness, maintenance of anthocyanin and vitamin C contents, total phenolic, and antioxidant capacity. However, grape skin extract and grape seed extract showed the best results. Therefore, it can be concluded that Shiraz dark grape seed and skin extracts have the potential to control the decay incidence, prolong the storage life and preserve of postharvest valuable attributes of strawberry.