Research paper
Omid Sohrabi; Abbdollah Hatamzadeh; Azim Ghasemnezhad; Habibollah Samizadeh; Vahid Erfani-Moghadam
Abstract
Irresponsible applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural production have caused significant environmental impacts and damage to human health. This study aimed to explore the effects of extracts from several Iranian medicinal plants on tomato growth under greenhouse conditions. ...
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Irresponsible applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural production have caused significant environmental impacts and damage to human health. This study aimed to explore the effects of extracts from several Iranian medicinal plants on tomato growth under greenhouse conditions. Within a completely randomized design, the treatments included methanolic extracts of Taraxacum officinale L., Conocarpus erectus L., Allium jesdianum L., Rheum ribes L., Dorema aucheri L., and Juniperus sabina L. at three concentrations of 1000, 5000, and 8000 mg L-1. The measured variables were stem length (SL), internode distance (ID), branch number (BN), auxin content (AC), cytokinin content (CC), auxin/cytokinin ratio, total protein, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant potential (FRAP). Under greenhouse conditions, foliar spraying with Dorema aucheri plant extract (8000 mg L-1) significantly increased the stem length by 15% compared to the control. Rheum ribes extract (8000 mg L-1) increased internode distance (19%). However, the number of branches decreased by 34% in response to the plant extracts. Compared to the control, the amount of cytokinin decreased after spraying, whereas the auxin content showed a sinusoidal pattern of change. In response to all treatments, the auxin/cytokinin ratio increased, with the highest value observed in plants treated with Allium jesdianum extract (5000 mg L-1). According to the results, the plant extracts proved effective and assisted in tomato growth. Future research may aim to identify effective biological compounds in these extracts.
Research paper
Fatemeh Nazoori; Elaheh ZamaniBahramabadi; Hossein Rezaei
Abstract
Since processing may affect the quality and benefits of foods, a study was conducted to compare some properties of fresh, sun-dried (constant water content of 4%) and oven-roasted (130 °C for 25 min) pistachio nuts of two cultivars. Carotenoid, iron, copper, manganese, total saturated, total unsaturated, ...
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Since processing may affect the quality and benefits of foods, a study was conducted to compare some properties of fresh, sun-dried (constant water content of 4%) and oven-roasted (130 °C for 25 min) pistachio nuts of two cultivars. Carotenoid, iron, copper, manganese, total saturated, total unsaturated, palmitic, and linolenic fatty acids showed no statistical difference (P≤0.05) among the samples. Comparing the ‘Akbari’ cultivar, the ‘Ahmadaghaei’ cultivar had less anthocyanin and less palmitoleic acid. Drying and roasting reduced antioxidant activity, flavonoid content, and arachidonic acid while increasing kernel firmness, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide. Chlorophyll content was higher in dried and roasted than fresh status in both cultivars. Stearic acid had a stable content in ‘Ahmadaghaei’, but increased by drying and roasting in ‘Akbari.’ Oleic acid increased by drying and roasting in ‘Ahmadaghaei.’ In ‘Akbari,’ oleic acid first decreased by drying and then increased to the initial level by roasting. Linoleic acid decreased by drying and roasting in ‘Ahmadaghaei’. In ‘Akbari’, it revealed an increasing trend by drying, but again decreased to the initial content after roasting. In conclusion, the conditions in this experiment for drying and roasting the pistachios were not harmful and had some advantages, leading to better pistachios storage.
Research paper
Sediqeh Afsharipour; Abdolmajid Mirzaalian Dastjerdi; Azam Seyedi
Abstract
Different culture media have various materials that impact root system architecture (RSA) and root system quality in plants. Finding the most compatible RSA of cucumber seedlings among the eight mixed culture media is critical to plant productivity. In this experiment, cucumber seeds were sown in eight ...
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Different culture media have various materials that impact root system architecture (RSA) and root system quality in plants. Finding the most compatible RSA of cucumber seedlings among the eight mixed culture media is critical to plant productivity. In this experiment, cucumber seeds were sown in eight mixed culture media, including a volume ratio of 30:10:60 of 1- perlite-vermicompost-coco peat as the control group, 2- peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat, 3- cocopeat vermicompost-palm peat, 4- perlite-vermicompost-palm peat, and 30:70 ratios of 5- peat moss- palm peat, 6- cocopeat -palm peat, 7- perlite -palm peat and 8- vermicompost-palm peat under greenhouse conditions. RSA of the seedlings was evaluated by GiA-Roots software via imaging at the fourleaf stage. The results showed that the minimum network length, network area, and network perimeter (821.6 cm, 7598.3 cm2, and 2102.3 cm, respectively) in the seedlings occurred on perlite-vermicompost-coco peat (control) which lacked palm peat. The minimum network volume, number of connected components, and network depth were observed in the control. However, the maximum network length, network volume, number of connected components, network width, network area, and network perimeter (88862.8 cm, 2076390.9 cm3, 23.2, 4567.4 cm, 332356.1 cm2, and 132068.9 cm, respectively) occurred in seedlings on peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat (30:10:60). Thus, a culture medium containing 30% peat moss, 60% palm peat, and 10% vermicompost improved RSA in cucumber seedlings. Palm peat was recommended as a sustainable resource to comprise culture media for cucumber seedlings.
Research paper
Soraya Karami; Sakine Faraji; Tayebeh Basaki; Sedighe Ghanaei
Abstract
The present research considered identifying drought-tolerant genotypes through an index-based analysis of stress tolerance and physiological traits in pomegranates. Ten local pomegranate genotypes in Iran were evaluated for drought stress tolerance in two different irrigation regimes, i.e., normal conditions ...
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The present research considered identifying drought-tolerant genotypes through an index-based analysis of stress tolerance and physiological traits in pomegranates. Ten local pomegranate genotypes in Iran were evaluated for drought stress tolerance in two different irrigation regimes, i.e., normal conditions and severe drought stress (SDS). The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications and took two consecutive years to accomplish (2019- 2020). Indices for stress tolerance were estimated from the fruit yield of a single tree under each irrigation regime. There were significantly positive correlations among several parameters, including Yp (fruityield under normal conditions), Ys (fruit yield under SDS), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), stress tolerance index (STI), and proline (Pro) content. Therefore, these indices can be applied when identifying drought-tolerant genotypes under SDS and normal conditions. The Pro content was introduced as the best physiological index to assist in indirectly selecting drought-tolerant genotypes. A negative correlation occurred between Ys and stress susceptibility index (SSI). This index may assist in identifying susceptible genotypes. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), two genotypes (MTS and PSS) performed best in fruit yield and showed a high Pro content under the SDS condition.
Research paper
Farzaneh Razavi
Abstract
Global warming exacerbates rainfall irregularity and causes a decline in water resources. Drought is one of the main limiting parameters in agricultural and fruit production. In this study, we established a standard method for measuring drought tolerance in Fragaria , the simplest genomic model in the ...
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Global warming exacerbates rainfall irregularity and causes a decline in water resources. Drought is one of the main limiting parameters in agricultural and fruit production. In this study, we established a standard method for measuring drought tolerance in Fragaria , the simplest genomic model in the Rosaceae, a plant family comprising important fruit species like almonds, apples, plums, etc. A quick screening method for monitoring Fragaria genotypes in response to dehydration involved conducting a short-term water deficit experiment. We measured two eco-physiological parameters associated with leaf water status, leaf relative water content (RWC), and leaf water loss rate (WLR) in a total of 20 strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) from different breeding programs. The plants included two ecotypes of the European diploid species, F. vesca, and one American octaploid species, F. chiloensis. Fragaria genotypes responded to drought stress, as measured by WLR and RWC, and DNA fingerprints further described select Fragaria genotypes using AFLP and candidate gene EST markers. We revealed correlations among specific DNA markers, leaf WLR, and RWC while navigating the possibility of using association mapping in a small set of Fagaria accessions. The ultimate aim was to create a set of correlated markers to the physiological drought-involved traits in Fragaria. Using F. vesca extensively as a characterized Rosaceae mod e-l plant species in this study can ensure the benefits of drought charact e-rization and plant-based responses in other important Rosaceae fruit species.
Research paper
Hossein Sheikhi; Mojtaba Delshad; Sasan Aliniaeifard; Kamahldin Haghbeen; Mesbah Bababalar; Rasool Nasiri
Abstract
Lettuce is one of the most important leafy vegetable crops. Despite lettuce being mostly grown in open fields, its greenhouse production is widely increasing. Lettuce growth comprises two distinct stages known as the seedling and head stages. The effect of supplemental lighting (SL) on lettuce growth ...
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Lettuce is one of the most important leafy vegetable crops. Despite lettuce being mostly grown in open fields, its greenhouse production is widely increasing. Lettuce growth comprises two distinct stages known as the seedling and head stages. The effect of supplemental lighting (SL) on lettuce growth was well studied, but the lighting requirement during the early stage of its growth and head development remained unknown. For this purpose, we evaluated nutritional qualities and growth in lettuce in response to SL in separate seedling and head development stages. The experiment involved SL with different daily light integral (DLI) provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Light treatments included supplemental DLI of 8.64, 11.52, 12.96, and 17.28 mol m-2 d-1. The results revealed that the lighting period was more effective on lettuce biomass increase than the light intensity. Although the SL increased the photosynthetic pigment content of lettuce, its impacts on the two growth stages were not the same. In a way, the chlorophyll a,total chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents decreased under the SL conditions (DLI of 17.28 mol m2 d-1 and light intensity of 300 μmol m-2 s1 for 16 h). Increasing DLI caused a significant increase in the nutritional quality of lettuce, but antioxidant accumulation did not follow a similar trend in seedlings and mature plants. These findings confirmed that SL improves lettuce growth and quality, but optimal lighting requirements may vary depending on the growth stage.
Research paper
Ali Saebi; Saeid Minaei; Ali-Reza Mahdavian; Mohammad-Taghi Ebadi
Abstract
Precision management of medicinal plant production using mechanical systems, processors, and sensors increases productivity, reduces waste, and manages production processes. This research developed a precision harvesting unit equipped with an automatic height adjustment system for utilization in harvesting ...
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Precision management of medicinal plant production using mechanical systems, processors, and sensors increases productivity, reduces waste, and manages production processes. This research developed a precision harvesting unit equipped with an automatic height adjustment system for utilization in harvesting machines to harvest Hyssop at an optimal height. The unit after development consisted of a power transmission system (converting rotational motion into reciprocating motion), a harvesting platform (cutter-bar, reel, and conveyor), and a system to control the vertical movement of the head. An ultrasonic sensor was employed to detect the highest part of the plant for control purposes. Acentral control board and a driver generated the control signal, with a stepper motor as the actuator. We measured harvesting-related variables, including dry matter, essential oil content and yield, leaf-tostem ratio, and indices related to conservation agriculture to evaluate the developed precision harvesting unit. Results showed that the unit increased the purity of the harvested plant raw material compared to the manual harvesting of Hyssop, a key to extracting more of the target substances, such as essential oil. The steady-state error of the control system measured 2% in adjusting the cutter-bar height for the optimal height of harvesting Hyssop (T15) in elevation and descension modes.
Research paper
Jaynne de Oliveira Siqueira Lino; Adriana da Silva Santos; Lucas Henrique Maciel; Maiara Tatiane Lima Silva; Antonio Gustavo de Luna Souto; Jaciele Beserra de Lira; Italo HL Cavalcante
Abstract
Using microorganisms can develop into a promising strategy for increasing photosynthetic activity and greater accumulation of assimilates in crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Rhodopseudomonas palustris on fruit yield and quality of ‘Keitt’ mangoes grown under semi-arid environmental ...
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Using microorganisms can develop into a promising strategy for increasing photosynthetic activity and greater accumulation of assimilates in crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Rhodopseudomonas palustris on fruit yield and quality of ‘Keitt’ mangoes grown under semi-arid environmental conditions. The experiment was carried out simultaneously in two mango orchards in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. The study comprised a randomized block design with treatments distributed in 7 treatments, 4 replications, and 3 plants per plot. The treatments consisted of different strategies for applying R. palustris. These treatments were T1) control treatment; T2) 1.43 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation; T3) 2.85 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation; T4) 4.27 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation; T5) 5.70 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation; T6) 1.43 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation + 1.43 × 107 CFU/plant via leaf spray; T7) 2.85 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation + 1.43 × 107 CFU/plant via leaf spray. The treatments were a pplied monthly, totaling seven applications. We evaluated fruit yield (Mg ha-1), longitudinal diameter, ventral diameter and transverse diameter, fruit mass, pulp firmness, pulp percentage, soluble solids (SS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, and dry pulp mass. R. palustris improved mango yield and fruit quality characteristics regarding longitudinal and transversal diameters and the SS/TA ratio. Mango plants treated with R. palustris at 1.43 × 107 CFU/plant via fertigation (T2) produced 10 Mg ha-1 more than the control group, without loss of fruit quality while considering the European market demand.
Research paper
Keivan Bahmani; Azam Akbari; Ali Izadi-Darbandi; Tahereh Ghamari
Abstract
Bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare) is a commercial subspecies of fennel that is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries. Despite the economic importance of this crop and a growing demand for its products, most farmers cultivate local bitter fennel populations that are ...
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Bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare) is a commercial subspecies of fennel that is widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and perfume industries. Despite the economic importance of this crop and a growing demand for its products, most farmers cultivate local bitter fennel populations that are not necessarily high-yielding. Genetic variation in bitter fennel and relevant heritability studies have suggested that selection can be an efficient breeding method to increase bitter fennel yield. This experiment was conducted in the College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran, from 2010 to 2014. Fifty fennel populations from different parts of Iran were collected and assessed for their maturity habit, life span, seed yield, essential oil content, and essential oil yield in a five-year field experiment. Resultsshowed that these fennel populations, based on their maturity habits, comprised three distinctive groups of early, intermediate, and latematuring, requiring 120, 175, and 230 days from seedling emergence to seed harvest, respectively. The life span of the fennel populations ranged from three to four years. In general, fennel populations in arid regions with extreme temperatures in summer and winter were earlymaturing and had shorter life spans. Populations in humid or semihumid regions with a rather temperate climate were late- or intermediate-maturing and had longer life spans. These observations showed how the causes of growth limitation such as extreme seasonal temperature changes, water accessibility, and competition for sunlight have shaped the phenological features of these fennel populations. During the first three years of the study, considering the minimum life span of all populations, essential oil yield among the early maturing fennels ranged from 2.5 to 104.6 L ha-1 year-1 (average 26.1±0.1). The essential oil yield ranged from 10.1 to 152.2 L ha-1 year-1 (average 67.7± 1) in intermediate-maturing fennels and from 7.5 to 160.9 L ha-1 year-1 (average 46.4±0.2) in late-maturing fennels. Populations with four and five-year life spans had a dramatic decrease in yield after the third year, although they produced considerable amounts of green biomass. Regarding average values in three years, the highest essential oil yield a mong early-maturing fennels occurred in the Fasa population (51.4 L ha-1), among intermediate-maturing fennels in the Meshkin Shahr and Moqhan populations (140.5 and 124.9 L ha-1, respectively), and among late-maturing fennels in the Sari population (52.1 L ha-1). Identifying high-yielding early- and intermediate maturing populations provides a platform for further evaluations on high-yielding fennel populations with stable performance in future studies.
Research paper
Zahra Sadat Amiri; Zahra Pakkish; Fatemeh Nasibi
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the effects of selenium nanoparticles on chilling injury and improving the shelf life of Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit. Treatments included 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 selenium nanoparticles, with three replicates per treatment and six replicates in total. Statistical analyses ...
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In this study, we evaluated the effects of selenium nanoparticles on chilling injury and improving the shelf life of Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis) fruit. Treatments included 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 selenium nanoparticles, with three replicates per treatment and six replicates in total. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, with data analyzed by one-way ANOVA and mean separations by Duncan’s new multiplerange test. Results showed that samples treated with selenium at 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (55 and 62%, respectively) compared to control samples. Selenium treatments also in creased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including CAT (twice and four times), peroxidase (2.5 and 4 times), APX (about 0.5 and 2.5 times), and SOD (by 4 and 6 times), with consistent results in DPPH radical scavenging (by 2.5 and 3.5 times) in the orange fruits. Selenium at both concentrations effectively reduced the incidence of chilling injury in Valencia orange fruits during six months of storage at 3 °C. Chilling injury was best reduced at 1 mg L-1. This study proved that selenium can enhance orange fruit quality and increase its tolerance to cold storage conditions, potentially leading to selenium-enriched fruits with health benefits for consumption.
