Improvement and breeding
H. Hasan-beigi; M. Saidi; M. Mohammadi
Abstract
To investigate the effects of foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and salicylic acid (SA) on the morphophysiological, biochemical, and yield characteristics of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, an experiment began as a factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at ...
Read More
To investigate the effects of foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA3) and salicylic acid (SA) on the morphophysiological, biochemical, and yield characteristics of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, an experiment began as a factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Ilam University, Iran, by sowing the plants in 2018 and continued by evaluating the plant characteristics for the two consecutive years (2018 & 2019). The experimental treatments included the foliar spray of plants during vegetative growth period with GA3 (0, 100, and 200 ppm) and SA (0, 100, and 200 ppm) as well as their combinations. The results showed that the highest plant height, number of flowers, and fresh and dry weight of the plants (in both years) were obtained in the GA3-200 ppm treatment and the highest amount of total chlorophyll and carotenoids (in both years) in the GA3-100 ppm one. The highest capitol diameter and fresh and dry weight of flowers in the first year and the highest anthocyanins content in the second year were observed in the GA3-200 ppm treatment. Also, the highest capitol diameter in the second year and the highest anthocyanins content in the first year were obtained in the SA-100 ppm treatment. In addition, the highest fresh and dry weight of flowers in the second year was recorded in the SA-200 ppm treatment. The highest essential oil amount of flowers, shoots (without flowers), and total essential oil (in both years) were obtained in the GA3-100 ppm+SA-100 ppm combination treatment. Considering that increasing the plant dry matter yield as well as essential oil content were the most important objectives of this study, the GA3-200 ppm treatment for the plant dry weight increase and the GA3-100 ppm+SA-100 ppm combination treatment for the essential oil content increase could be suggested as the best treatments.
S. Esmaili; M. Rafiei; M. Saidi; S. Beigi; Z. Tahmasebi; M. Mohammadi; M. Kohzadian
Abstract
Tomato early blight disease, caused by Alternaia solani fungus, is one of the most important diseases of tomato in the world, and also in Iran. In order to investigate the antifungal activity of some medicinal plants to control this fungus, separate experiments were conducted in a completely randomized ...
Read More
Tomato early blight disease, caused by Alternaia solani fungus, is one of the most important diseases of tomato in the world, and also in Iran. In order to investigate the antifungal activity of some medicinal plants to control this fungus, separate experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. In the first experiment, the effect of concentrations of 200, 400 and 600 ppm of hydro-alcoholic extract (70% methanol and 30% water) of Thymbra spicata L., Thymus eriocalyx (Ronniger) Jalas, Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad and Oliveria decumbents Vent. with the negative (distilled water) and positive (Daconil, 3 g l-1) controls on the growth of A. solani fungus was studied under in vitro conditions. The results of the first experiment indicated complete inhibiting of fungal colony growth in all treatments. In the second experiment, 72 hours after contamination of tomato plants with A. solani fungus in an isolated greenhouse, contaminated plants were sprayed with the above-mentioned treatments and monitored for the disease symptoms 14 days later. In the third experiment, the protective effect of the above-mentioned treatments was studied. The results of the second and third experiments showed that with an increase in the extract concentration, the inhibitory and protective effects of the treatments increased. Although all treatments reduced the disease severity compared to the control, the concentrations of 600 ppm of T. spicata, 600 ppm of T. eriocalyx and 400 ppm of T. spicata, respectively had the most effective inhibitory and protective effects on the growth of fungus studied. Therefore, the use of the above treatments is recommended as a practical method for biological control of A. solani.
M. Mohammadi; M. Aelaei; M. Saidi
Abstract
The vascular obstruction due to the growth of microbial agents, especially bacteria, is one of the most important reasons for reducing the quality and vase life of cut flowers in the postharvest stage. In order to investigate the effect of extract (1 and 2 %) and essential oil (EO) (25 and 50 ppm) of ...
Read More
The vascular obstruction due to the growth of microbial agents, especially bacteria, is one of the most important reasons for reducing the quality and vase life of cut flowers in the postharvest stage. In order to investigate the effect of extract (1 and 2 %) and essential oil (EO) (25 and 50 ppm) of Thymbra spicata L. and Satureja bachtiarica L. on bacterial population and vase life of cut flower Gerbera jamesonii L. var. Pink Elegance, this experiment was designed as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that the experimental treatments, by reducing the bacterial population at the end of flower branch, maintained the quality and increased the vase life of flowers (up to three days in treatment with 50 ppm of S. bachtiarica EO, compared with the control samples. Also, the antibacterial activity and vase life of cut flowers increased by increasing the concentration of EO and extract of both medicinal plants. After eight days of storage, the results showed that the maximum vase life (11 days), relative absorption of vase solution (8.95 ml/g FW per day), and the lowest bacterial population of the end of the flower branch were related to 50 ppm of S. bachtiarica EO treatment. However, in terms of relative fresh weight, total soluble solids, anthocyanin content, ion leakage, malondialdehyde content, and the activity of catalase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzymes, there was no significant difference between two treatments of 50 ppm EO from medicinal plants T. spicata L. and S. bachtiarica L. Therefore, the use of 50 ppm EO of S. bachtiarica, and in the second rank of T. spicata, is recommended as a practical method in the process of postharvest and marketing of gerbera cut flowers.
A. Moghadam; M. Saidi; V. Abdossi; M. Mirab-balou; Z. Tahmasebi
Abstract
Plant-derived extracts and essential oils may function as environmentally friendly non-persistent bio-pesticides that are safe for humans as well as other animals. In this study, we investigated the effects of six endemic plant extracts as well as commercial insecticides against Bemisia tabaci and some ...
Read More
Plant-derived extracts and essential oils may function as environmentally friendly non-persistent bio-pesticides that are safe for humans as well as other animals. In this study, we investigated the effects of six endemic plant extracts as well as commercial insecticides against Bemisia tabaci and some physiological responses in cucumber as the host plant at field conditions. The plant extracts and Stamipride as chemical pesticide were sprayed on the plants at 250, 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations. All extracts led to the reduced number of adults as compared with control, among which the greatest impact on the control of this pest was recorded for the extract of Oliveria decombens. Application of all extracts especially at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm significantly increased the number of first and second grade fruits. The content of potassium significantly increased and the content of calcium decreased by increasing the concentration of extracts from 250 to 1000 ppm. Results showed that application of extracts and pesticide, especially at high concentrations, imposed negative effects on plant and significantly increased the antioxidant activity in cucumber leaves. In general, all extracts used, especially the extract of Oliveria decombens at a low concentration(250 ppm)was extremely efficient in controlling the adult population of Bemisia tabaci without adverse effects on host plants compared with the commercial insecticide.
