Improvement and breeding
M. Moghadami Rad; R.A. Khavari-Nejad; S. Saadatmand; F. Najafi
Abstract
Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) is a herbaceous and perennial plant, which has bioactive compounds with high medicinal and pigment potency. Local farmers believe that increasing soil lime increases the color composition of this plant. To investigate the effects of calcium carbonate and phosphorus fertilizer ...
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Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) is a herbaceous and perennial plant, which has bioactive compounds with high medicinal and pigment potency. Local farmers believe that increasing soil lime increases the color composition of this plant. To investigate the effects of calcium carbonate and phosphorus fertilizer on some physiological parameters and root alizarin content in madder, a field factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Experimental treatments included calcium carbonate at five levels (0, 20, 50, 100, and 150 kg.ha-1) and triple superphosphate at four levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg.ha-1). Means comparison showed that the highest root dry weight (an increase of 75% compared to control), total plant dry weight (an increase of 58% compared to control), root alizarin content (an increase of 78% compared to control), and root catalase activity were obtained with calcium carbonate increase up to 20 kg.ha-1 and triple superphosphate increase up to 100 kg.ha-1. The highest root length (an increase of 54% compared to control) and leaf catalase activity were observed in the 50 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate and 100 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate treatment. The highest leaf and root peroxidase activity was obtained in the treatment of 150 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate and 150 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate. Simultaneous application of these two fertilizers had a complementary effect on each other, so that the 20 and 50 kg.ha-1 calcium carbonate application along with the 100 kg.ha-1 triple superphosphate had an increasing effect on the alizarin content of madder root. This method can be used for the future development of a non-destructive tolerance test that shows madder increased response to calcium carbonate and phosphorus fertilizer, to further produce madder root medicinal compounds as a targeted drug for cancer treatment.
F. Najafi; S. Mehrabian; R. Khavari-Nejad; Y. Ghorbani
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of NaCl (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 100mM) were investigated on some physiological parameters and antibacterial activities of dill (Anethum graveolens L.). Ten-days-old seedlings, prepared in sterilized petri dishes, were transferred into pots ...
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In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of NaCl (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 100mM) were investigated on some physiological parameters and antibacterial activities of dill (Anethum graveolens L.). Ten-days-old seedlings, prepared in sterilized petri dishes, were transferred into pots containing washed sand and irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution. Pots were located in a growth chamber (at 25°C for 16h in light and 18°C for 8h in darkness) and after certain growth period, plants were harvested for analyses. For antibacterial analyses, the plants were treated throughout flowering and fruit production stages. Results showed that in all treated plants, proline content was increased and photosynthetic pigments were decreased in high concentrations of NaCl. Also, the studies on growth factors showed that in dill, these parameters were affected by NaCl. Studies on antibacterial activities showed that in most of the cases, the zone of inhibition was increased by increasing of salt concentration and the antibacterial effect of extract was significant in high concentrations. Of course, choosing the best way and solute for preparing the extract is important for reaching a noticeable antibacterial effect.
F. Najafi; Z. Tavakkoli
Abstract
In the present study, essential oil composition and antibacterial effects of Ziziphora tenuior in Hesarak (Karaj) and Venarch (Qom) were studied and compared. The aerial parts of plants were collected at full flowering stage and essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary ...
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In the present study, essential oil composition and antibacterial effects of Ziziphora tenuior in Hesarak (Karaj) and Venarch (Qom) were studied and compared. The aerial parts of plants were collected at full flowering stage and essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS. Thirteen and sixteen compounds were identified in essential oils of plants in Hesarak and Venarch respectively. In both regions, the highest content was recorded for pulegone (85 to 87 %) and no significant differences were observed. Limonene in plants of Hesarak (5.1%) were more than that of Venarch(3.64 %). Ethanol extracts of the plants in Hesarak significantly showed an effective controlling and antimicrobial effect against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus compared with plants of Venarch. Concentrations of Mn, Fe and Ni in soil of Venarch (2766.67, 40333, 0.384 ppm respectively) were higher than that of Hesarak (558.33, 28600, 12.25 ppm respectively), however, soluble manganese and iron contents in soil of Hesarak (6.53 and 4 ppm respectively) were higher than that of soil of Venarch (4.6 and 1.9 ppm respectively). Since concentration of Mn, Fe and Ni in aerial parts and roots of the studied plant in Hesarak and Venarch showed significant difference, antibacterial activity of the plants in both regions is also different. According to the results and with regard to the changes in elements concentration of the soil, essential oil composition and antibacterial effects of Ziziphora tenuior are affected by elements content in soil.