Research paper
Babul Chandra Sarker; Joydeb Gomasta
Abstract
In a two-phase experiment during 2018 and 2021, we evaluated the propagation success of avocado against three types of grafting (cleft, veneer, and splice) and two budding techniques (T and patch) practiced in the 3rd week of February, April, June, August, October, and December, considering the atmosphere ...
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In a two-phase experiment during 2018 and 2021, we evaluated the propagation success of avocado against three types of grafting (cleft, veneer, and splice) and two budding techniques (T and patch) practiced in the 3rd week of February, April, June, August, October, and December, considering the atmosphere of the six seasons (spring, summer, rain, autumn, late autumn, and winter, respectively) in Bangladesh. Cleft grafting was suitable during spring, demonstrating statistical superiority by exhibiting earlier bud sprouting (25.58 days) and better sapling qualities (16.27 cm scion growth and 14.57 leaves sapling-1). It produced a maximum number of transplantable propagules after ten months of grafting compared to all other combinations. However, commercial multiplications could not be satisfied with only a 48.00% success rate at the best combination. A post-grafting etiolation was therefore applied to the spring season’s cleft grafts. Out of 72-hour, 120- hour, 168-hour, and 216-hour etiolation and control (non-etiolation), etiolation up to 120-hour significantly augmented the success rate compared to the control treatment. The 216-hour etiolation treatment failed to produce any successful grafts. The earliest bud sprouting (21.37 days) with maximum bud sprouts (86.00%), transplantable grafts (78.67%), and superior quality grafts was obtained from the 120- hour etiolation compared to the other treatments, while the control treatment produced only 49.33% transplantable grafts. Thus, the 120- hour etiolation made 59.46% more transplants than the non-etiolation treatment. T-budding in winter was the worst technique and time for avocado grafting. Veneer grafting and the autumn season were the second-best options. Therefore, post-grafting treatment appeared best for avocado vegetative propagation.
Research paper
Majid Pourrahimi; Seyed Ahmad Sadat-Noori; Fatemeh Amini; Hossein Ramshini
Abstract
We selected ten Ajowan parents (Carum copticum L.) from a genetically diverse population to evaluate gene effects, heritability, and correlations among their morphological traits. We poly-crossed the parents to produce half-sib genotypes. The evaluations comprised the number of days to flowering, plant ...
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We selected ten Ajowan parents (Carum copticum L.) from a genetically diverse population to evaluate gene effects, heritability, and correlations among their morphological traits. We poly-crossed the parents to produce half-sib genotypes. The evaluations comprised the number of days to flowering, plant height, number of fertile branches, number of umbrellas per plant, number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per plant, harvest index, essential oil percentage, and essential oil yield. Parents and polycross progeny seeds grew in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the University of Tehran, 2015-2017. The results showed broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.64 to 0.96 in parents and their progenies. Narrow-sense heritability appeared through the regression of progenies on the parents (h2po) and via progeny analysis (h2n), suggesting that additive genes control these traits. The correlation of seed yield with plant height, number of fertile branches, number of umbrellas per plant, and number of seeds per umbel were positive and significant. The results indicated a significant negative correlation between thymol and γ- terpinene in parents and half-sib families. We reported wide variations and high heritability for most of the evaluated traits in the ajowan populations that can improve seed and essential oil yields.
Research paper
Borzou Yousefi; Armin Saed-Moucheshi; Mohamaad Gheitury
Abstract
White savory is a medicinal plant native to Iran. It is known for its tolerance to water-deficit conditions. A farm experiment evaluated cultivation in dryland conditions while describing interactions among organic fertilizers (O. F.). Planting densities affected essential oil (EO) and yield-related ...
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White savory is a medicinal plant native to Iran. It is known for its tolerance to water-deficit conditions. A farm experiment evaluated cultivation in dryland conditions while describing interactions among organic fertilizers (O. F.). Planting densities affected essential oil (EO) and yield-related traits in white savory under dryland farming. This experiment was conducted in the Mehregan Research Station, Kermanshah, by a split-plot design based on RCBD with three replications, and three fertilizer treatments, i.e., cow manure (30 tons ha-1), wheat straw enriched with sulfate ammonium (10 tons ha -1), and farm soil. There were three planting densities, i.e., low-density (2.66), medium-density (4), and high-density (8 plant m-2) during the 2017- 2018 and 2018-2019 crop years. The highest two-year average of fresh yield (3149.90 kg ha-1) and dry yield (1611.70 kg ha-1) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × high-density treatment. The highest two-year average of EO percentage (2.19%) resulted from using rotten cow manure × low-density planting. The highest EO yield (32.60 kg ha-1) resulted from enriched straw × high-density planting. The highest plant fresh yield (3434.02 kg×ha-1), plant dry yield (1231.98 kg ha-1), and EO yield (24.68 kg ha-1) resulted from the second year of harvest. We recommend dry farming S. mutica in a modified substrate using 30 tons ha-1 rotten cow manure and a row spacing of 50 × 25 cm in mountainous regions, where annual rainfall is more than 450 mm on average.
Research paper
Reza Shabani Fard; Erfan Aghaee Hanjani; Elham Danaee
Abstract
Salinity stress was imposed on Calendula officinalis L. by potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) salts. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of polyamine foliar application on growth indices and physiological traits of Calendula officinalis L. under salinity stress. A factorial ...
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Salinity stress was imposed on Calendula officinalis L. by potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) salts. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of polyamine foliar application on growth indices and physiological traits of Calendula officinalis L. under salinity stress. A factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The experiment was conducted in a commercial greenhouse in Pakdasht, Iran (2021). The treatments included salinity stress induced by NaCl and KCl salts (0, 50 and 100 mg L-1) and putrescine and spermine foliar applications (0, 1 and 2 mM). The results showed that the treatments had a significant effect on the measured variables. Increasing NaCl and KCl levels decreased the value of each variable, except for proline and superoxide dismutase activity. Putrescine and spermine foliar applications mitigated the effects of salt stress and improved the evaluated traits. The highest fresh and dry shoot weight (15.59- 3.58 g), plant height (38.70 cm), leaf count (23), and flower count (12.50) were observed in the control. Also, the highest root fresh weight (5.17 g) and root volume (4.60 cm3) were obtained inresponse to NaCl 50 mg L-1 + spermidine 2 mM. The effects of NaCl 50 mg L-1 + putrescine 2 mM caused the highest root dry weight (1.42 g). The highest carotenoid content in petals (0.69 mg g-1 FW) and leaf chlorophyll content (14.54 mg g-1 FW) were obtained in response to KCl 50 mg L-1 + spermidine 2 mM. Also, the highest superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (85.90 unit of enzyme g-1 FW) and proline (8.4 mg g-1 FW) were obtained in response to NaCl 50 and 100 mg L-1, respectively. In summary, this research showed that polyamine foliar application, especially spermine, most significantly increased the growth indices and physiological traits in pot marigold under salinity stress.
Research paper
Maryam Rahimi; Narges Pakravan; Rouhollah Karimi
Abstract
Grapes are a rich source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant, antibacterial, and nutritional properties among fruits. The aim of this study was to investigate different classes of phenolic compounds in the berry skin of eleven Vitis vinifera cultivars. The phenolic compounds were flavonols, flavanols, ...
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Grapes are a rich source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant, antibacterial, and nutritional properties among fruits. The aim of this study was to investigate different classes of phenolic compounds in the berry skin of eleven Vitis vinifera cultivars. The phenolic compounds were flavonols, flavanols, flavone, anthocyanins, stilbenes, and phenolic acids. The highest amounts of catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid were observed in ‘Yaghooti’ grape cultivar (P≤0.05). However, the amounts of catechin gallat, kaempferol, myricetin, and pcoumaric acid in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ berries were higher (P≤0.05) compared to other cultivars. Quercetin was the main flavonol and was highest (9.48 μg g-1; P≤0.05) in ‘Yaghooti’ berries. Luteolin content, as a flavone, ranged from 0.49 μmol g-1 in ‘Rishbaba’ berry skin to 0.88 μmol g-1 in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’. Delphinidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3- glucoside were highest in ‘Yaghooti’. Cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin -3-glucoside were highest in ‘Angoor Siah.’ Petunidin 3-glucoside was highest in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ (P≤0.05). Berry skin resveratrol varied from 22.7 μg g-1 in ‘Monaqa and Fakhri’ cultivars to 54.8 μg g-1 FW in ‘Bidaneh Ghermez,’ with an overall average of 36.9 μg g-1 FW. Among different cultivars, the antioxidant capacity of ‘Angoor Siah’ was highest (71.3%; P≤0.05) and ‘Monaqa’ was lowest. The ‘Angoor Siah’ cultivar had more antibacterial activity compared to other cultivars. In sum, the berry skin of ‘Yaghooti,’ ‘Angoor Siah,’ and ‘Bidaneh Ghermez’ showed the highest health-promoting bioactive compounds, potentially important for future studies.
Research paper
Anna Tadevosyan; Mahsa Daryadar; Anahit Tovmasyan; Armenuhi Asatryan; Hamid Reza Roosta; Anahit Hakobjanyan
Abstract
Moringa oleifera Lam. is a well-known medicinal plant and food source. It is rich in bioactive substances, has several pharmacological properties, and is an introduced species to Armenia. This study aimed to evaluate moringa for adaptability to Armenian climatic conditions while assessing its antioxidant ...
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Moringa oleifera Lam. is a well-known medicinal plant and food source. It is rich in bioactive substances, has several pharmacological properties, and is an introduced species to Armenia. This study aimed to evaluate moringa for adaptability to Armenian climatic conditions while assessing its antioxidant and antibacterial activities in different cultivation systems. Moringa plants were grown in soil and hydroponic systems (on specific substrates: volcanic slag, gravel, volcanic slag mixed with gravel). We examined growth characteristics, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties. The results showed that moringa can adapt to the Armenian climate. It is important to note that leaf dry mass increased by 1.6-1.7 fold in hydroponic-grown plants compared to soil-grown plants, regardless of the growth substrate. We observed a higher antioxidant activity in plants that grew on gravel only and gravel mixed with volcanic slag substrates. A comparative study of the antibacterial activity of moringa leaf water extract revealed that the plant extract (5000 µg mL-1) in hydroponic conditions suppressed the growth of gram-positive (Enterococcus hirae) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria in 24 hours. Soil-grown plants had similar extracts by concentration that inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria. Thus, moringa plants adapted to the Armenian climate. The plants performed better in the hydroponic system than in the soil system. This superiority in performance appeared in plant growth, yield, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties.
Research paper
Karim Arab Salmani; Yousef Hakimi
Abstract
Genetic variability in a crop population is essential for successful plant breeding. Fifteen cucumber genotypes (Cucumis sativus L.) were evaluated in the greenhouse under warm conditions to estimate the magnitude of their genetic variability, trait heritability, morphological features, and pomological ...
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Genetic variability in a crop population is essential for successful plant breeding. Fifteen cucumber genotypes (Cucumis sativus L.) were evaluated in the greenhouse under warm conditions to estimate the magnitude of their genetic variability, trait heritability, morphological features, and pomological characteristics. The genotypes appeared in five categories based on their performance and determination of the most reliable discriminative features that accounted for more significant variability. Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) assisted in the classification. The measured characteristics were cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus, fungal severities of infestation, off-type plant, stem, internode, leaf, petiole, fruit and fruit trail length, leaf width, male flower percentage, fruit color and groove, fruit diameter, fruit fresh weight, fruit dry matter and ash percentage, fruit pH, EC and TSS, fruit yield, and total fruit count. The IR4 and IR5 genotypes showed the highest fruit yield (460.85 and 425.86 kg/plot) and number (108.72 and 84.22 fruit/plant). IR11 had the highest value of fruit length (16.60 cm). High broad-sense heritability was associated with all the traits except for cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus and fungal severities of infestation, fruit pH, and total fruit yield. Cluster analysis and its comparison of means showed that IR4 and IR5 from the fifth cluster expressed the best agronomic traits and yield potentials in warm conditions (40 °C/32 °C day/night). Hence, selection for any characteristic would favor genotypes in these clusters. The PCA involved fruit dry matter and TSS as the most discriminating trait that accounted for more significant cucumber variability, which can become crucial information in cucumber improvement programs.
Research paper
Khaled Elmeer; Zenib Suliman; Latifa Al-Latifi; Nora Alhashimi; Ateea Alamami
Abstract
In the Libyan Green Mountains, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different elevations and topography on the genetic variation and chemical composition of Spartium junceum. The results indicated a significant difference among the antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid ...
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In the Libyan Green Mountains, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different elevations and topography on the genetic variation and chemical composition of Spartium junceum. The results indicated a significant difference among the antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid content of flower extracts obtained from the genotypes of different regions. The total phenol content ranged from 22.74 to 31.66 mg GAE g-1, whereas the flavonoid content ranged from 7.35 to 10.74 mg CE g-1 DW. The antioxidant efficiency appeared variable among the flower extracts, ranging between 66.81-91.55 μM Trolox equivalents (TE) g-1 of dry matter. Genetic variation was examined by inter-simple sequence repeats, showing a mean value of 0.26 in gene diversity, and a mean value of 0.21 in polymorphism information content. A total of 26 bands were observed, with an average of 3.25 bands per primer, while 50% of the bands were polymorphic. The most effective primers were BT01, BT09, and BT11, which generated four bands. The least effective primer was BT10, which generated only two bands. Phylogenetic relationships between the genotypes divided the samples into two main groups according to geographical location.
Research paper
Ritambhara Bhutani; Susmita Shukla; Nibha Gupta; Shiv Kant Shukla
Abstract
This research aimed at in vitro propagations of bananas originating from India. Banana (Musa spp.) is a nutritious fruit but shows susceptibility to specific diseases. A traditional method of its propagation is through the separation of suckers, although it may culminate in the transmission of nematodes, ...
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This research aimed at in vitro propagations of bananas originating from India. Banana (Musa spp.) is a nutritious fruit but shows susceptibility to specific diseases. A traditional method of its propagation is through the separation of suckers, although it may culminate in the transmission of nematodes, parasitic organisms, and viral diseases. In the past two decades, plant tissue culture techniques have facilitated the production of disease-free plantlets. Tissue culturing bananas can involve different explants, including shoot tips, suckers, leaves, and flower buds. Each responds differently to the presence and absence of light. In the current research, explant cultures were placed in light or dark incubation for identical durations, i.e., one to six months, to monitor their growth and development. The color intensity of the explants changed in response to different photoperiods. Young flower buds, mature flower buds, and suckers developed a higher color intensity when placed in light than in dark conditions. However, the opposite occurred in leaf explants thatgrew optimally in the dark. The results indicated that banana growth occurred productively from sucker explants in different light conditions and variable durations. The results were optimal when employing sucker explants, which exhibited the fastest growth.
Research paper
Fereshteh Abbasi; Azizolah Khandan-Mirkohi; Ali Haji Ahmad; Mohsen Kafi; Majid Shokrpour
Abstract
This study aimed to optimize an efficient nutrient system to produce cut Lilium flowers while considering the recent severe water crisis and the high cost of chemicals and fertilizers. Lilium bulbs (Lilium OT Hybrid cv. ‘‘Zambesi’’) were grown in aeroponic (centrifugal) and ultrasonic ...
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This study aimed to optimize an efficient nutrient system to produce cut Lilium flowers while considering the recent severe water crisis and the high cost of chemicals and fertilizers. Lilium bulbs (Lilium OT Hybrid cv. ‘‘Zambesi’’) were grown in aeroponic (centrifugal) and ultrasonic systems with variable pulse periods. An ultrasonic system (on/off) time in seconds was considered 10/10, 15/5, and 20/0. An aeroponic system was 3/27, 6/24, and 9/21 in seconds. A modified Hoagland nutrient solution was applied, and plants were grown to the flowering stage. Then, plant morpho-physiological responses were evaluated under different systems and operation times. The growth rate in the vegetative stage and plant height were higher in the aeroponic compared to the ultrasonic system, but the effect of pulses was not significant. Thehighest reproductive growth occurred in 10 and 20% pulses of the aeroponic system. Maximum root length was obtained in 10% of the aeroponic system operation. Maximum but unserious bulb rot was observed in 10% of the aeroponic systems compared to the others. Overall, 10% of the aeroponic system operation was recommendable for Lilium cultivation. Considerably, water consumption was less than half in the ultrasonic system compared to the aeroponic system. Also, the quantum performance of PSII decreased in the time performance by 50%, but it showed better results than the other pulses in the ultrasonic system. The findings reveal that the low water need in the ultrasonicsystem is a promising achievement. Thus, we recommended performing additional experiments with different pulses and even frequencies to achieve better performances in this system.
