Agriculture and horticulture
A. Javanmard; M. Rahimi; M. Amani Machiani; M. Janmohammadi; R. Habibi Machiani
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of different irrigation levels and foliar application of nutrients, on dry matter yield and essential oil content and composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), a field experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design, with 12 treatments ...
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To evaluate the effects of different irrigation levels and foliar application of nutrients, on dry matter yield and essential oil content and composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), a field experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design, with 12 treatments and three replications, at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Iran in 2021. The factors included irrigation as the main factor at three levels (irrigation after 20 (control), 40 (moderate stress), and 60% (severe stress) of the maximum allowable moisture depletion) and fertilizer source as the sub-factor at four levels (non-application of fertilizer (control), and foliar application of Macromix gold, Ecoquel micromix, and Vitalem forte). The results demonstrated that the highest (280.5 g.m-2) and lowest (113.7 g.m-2) total dry weight were obtained under normal irrigation conditions (control) with the application of Macromix gold and severe stress without fertilizer application, respectively. Total dry weight decreased by 22.7 and 40.3% under moderate and severe drought stress conditions, respectively compared to normal irrigation. Macromix gold, Vitalem forte, and Ecoquel micromix application enhanced the amount of total dry weight by 37.7, 23.8, and 17.1% compared to no fertilizer application, respectively. The highest content (2.1%) and essential oil yield (4.5 g.m-2) and also the highest amount of menthol (40.9%), menthone (28.1%), and cineole (6.2%) in the essential oil were observerd under moderate water stress conditions fertilized with Macromix gold. Based on the obtained results, the foliar application of Macromix gold could be recommended as an effective solution to enhance the quantity and quality of the peppermint essential oil under drought stress conditions.
Improvement and breeding
Z. Aslani; A. Hedayati; A. Hassani; M. Barin
Abstract
Piriformospora indica is one of the growth-promoting microorganisms that can stimulate growth and increase plant tolerance in adverse environmental conditions. To evaluate the effects of P. indica inoculation on some vegetative, physiological, biochemical, and nutrient acquisition parameters and essential ...
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Piriformospora indica is one of the growth-promoting microorganisms that can stimulate growth and increase plant tolerance in adverse environmental conditions. To evaluate the effects of P. indica inoculation on some vegetative, physiological, biochemical, and nutrient acquisition parameters and essential oil content of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare, a pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included control (without inoculation) and inoculation with P. indica. The results showed that inoculation with P. indica increased growth parameters, chlorophyll index, total phenols and total flavonoids content, essential oil content, and nutrients uptake of iron, potassium, and phosphorus singnificantly. The highest and lowest amounts for aerial parts fresh yield (3.92 and 3.06 g plant-1), aerial parts dry yield (1.12 and 0.78 g plant-1), chlorophyll index (47 and 42.23), total phenol (4.88 and 2.96 mg GAE g-1 FW), total flavonoids (0.52 and 0.23 mg QE g-1 FW), essential oil content (1.43 and 1.01%), phosphorus (0.41 and 0.35%), potassium (3.8 and 2.6%), and iron (219 and 180 mg kg-1) were obtained in the plants inoculated with fungus and non-inoculated plants, respectively. Inoculation with P. indica decreased the amount of major essential oil compounds such as carvacrol and thymol and increased the amount of ρ-cymene, carvacrol methyl ether, and γ-terpinene compared to the control. Overall, the findings of this study showed that inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms can improve the morphological and phytochemical traits of oregano by improving nutrients uptake.
Agriculture and horticulture
A. Abbasi Khammar; M. Moghaddam; A. Asgharzade; M. Mahmoodi Sourestani
Abstract
To study the effects of different nitrogen levels (0, 70, 140, and 210 mg l-1) on some growth, biochemical, and nutrient uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) characteristics and essential oil content in sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under hydroponic conditions, a pot experiment was conducted based ...
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To study the effects of different nitrogen levels (0, 70, 140, and 210 mg l-1) on some growth, biochemical, and nutrient uptake (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) characteristics and essential oil content in sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under hydroponic conditions, a pot experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with four replications in the research greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2019. The results of means comparison showed that with increasing the nitrogen level, the plant growth characteristics increased, so that the 210 mg l-1 N treatment decreased the stem diameter, number of branches, nodes, and leaves, length of internodes, length and leaf width, fresh and stem dry weight, fresh and aerial parts dry weight, and aerial parts dry weight to root dry weight ratio by 54.19, 72.59, 39.49, 82.52, 51.42, 72.20, 71.46, 95.17, 90.31, 95.82, 92.30, and 83.46%, respectively compared to the no N application. The application of 210 mg l-1 N increased the relative content of leaf water (RWC), proline, and essential oil content by 9.57, 266.6, and 14.87% and decreased the electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde by 30.45 and 51.51%, respectively compared to the no N application. Also, the lowest N level decreased the K, P, and N content by 32.65, 85.13, and 56.89%, respectively compared to the highest N level. The results of this experiment showed that different N levels could have different effects on the growth and essential oil content of sage. Based on the present research findings, the application of 210 mg l-1 N could be recommended for the sage cultivation due to the improving effects on the studied traits of the plant.
H. Pirani; M.T. Ebadi; A. Rezaei
Abstract
Ensuring the healthy and sustainable production of agricultural products, esp. medicinal plants, while preserving the environment, is an important issue that is becoming increasingly important every day. To investigate the effect of seaweed fertilizer foliar application on growth characteristics and ...
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Ensuring the healthy and sustainable production of agricultural products, esp. medicinal plants, while preserving the environment, is an important issue that is becoming increasingly important every day. To investigate the effect of seaweed fertilizer foliar application on growth characteristics and quantitative and qualitative yield of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.), an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four treatments of seaweed fertilizer (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 ml.l-1) and three replications in the research farm of faculty of agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran province, Iran in 2017. Measured traits included plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, top flowering branch length, fresh and dry weight of the plant, chlorophyll content index, yield, essential oil content, and composition. The results showed that seaweed fertilizer had a significant effect on all studied traits except top flowering branch length and stem diameter, and the highest plant height (49.66 cm), fresh and dry weight of the plant (103.22 and 22.89 g, respectively), leaf area (0.77 cm2) and chlorophyll content (61.83) were obtained in 10 ml.l-1 seaweed fertilizer treatment without significant difference from 5 ml.l-1 treatment. Also, the 10 ml.l-1 treatment caused the highest percentage and yield of essential oil (0.58% and 2.12 g.m-2). Essential oil analysis showed that β-pinene, trans-pinocamphone, and cis-pinocamphone were the main compounds of essential oil in all treatments. The highest content of β-pinene (32.8%), cis-pinocamphone (42.5%), and trans-pinocamphone (19.6%) was observed in 5, 2.5 and 10 ml.l-1 seaweed fertilizer treatments, respectively, without significant difference from control treatment. Based on the results of this study, the application of seaweed fertilizer can improve the growth characteristics and quantitative and qualitative yield of hyssop.
F. Masoudi Sadaghiani; M. Amini Dehaghi; A.R Pirzad; M.H. Fotokian
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of osmolytes on the quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) in drought stress conditions, a split-plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Research ...
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In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of osmolytes on the quantitative and qualitative yield of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) in drought stress conditions, a split-plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Shahed University. The treatments included irrigation as the main factor in three levels [(irrigation after 50 (without stress), 100 (moderate stress) and 150 mm evaporation from the class A pan (severe stress)] and foliar application of osmolytes as sub-plots in seven levels [(without Spraying (NS), distilled water (W), methyl jasmonate (MJ= 75mM), salicylic acid (SA= 2mM), humic acid (HA= 2.5lit/1000), glycine betaine (GB= 5mM), and g- aminobutyric acid (GABA= 50mM). The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water was 4.8 dS/m. Mean comparisons showed that GABA combined with severe stress had the highest essential oil yield (3.7 kg ha-1). In plants treated with GABA under severe stress, essential oil harvest index was increased by 60 and 58%, respectively, compared to W and NS treatments. The highest and lowest capitol harvest index with 70.81% and 23.28% were respectively obtained from GB combined without stress and W with severe stress. SA, GB, and GABA increased the capitol yield in severe stress compared with the moderate stress. Severe stress caused a significant increase in essential oil content from 0.66 to 1.13%, a 35% reduction in seed harvest index compared to control treatment, and a significant reduction in biomass yield rather than moderate stress. MJ and SA increased seed yield compared with NS in moderate stress.
R. Farhoudi; Adel Modhej
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of drought stress on grain and essential oil yield, antioxidant properties of essential oil, and accumulation of conformal osmolites in the leaves of two Nigella sativa L., this research was conducted at the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch ...
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In order to investigate the effect of drought stress on grain and essential oil yield, antioxidant properties of essential oil, and accumulation of conformal osmolites in the leaves of two Nigella sativa L., this research was conducted at the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch during 2016-2017. The experiment was a split plot based on randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plot included four levels of irrigation including optimal irrigation, mild, moderate and severe stress (based on irrigation under 90, 80, 70 and 60% soil field capacity, respectively), and ecotypes of Kashmar and Shahreza were considered as subplots. Results indicated that the grain yield of Kashmar ecotype was reduced 2.4%, 20.2% and 40.1% under mild, moderate and sever stress compared to optimum conditions, respectively. The grain yield of Shahreza ecotype was reduced 6.2%, 38.1% and 63%, respectively. Reduction of grain yield under severe stress conditions was due to a significant decrease in the number of capsules and seeds per capsule. Essential oil yield of Kashmar and Shahreza ecotypes decreased by 18% and 54% in severe drought stress conditions, respectively. Kashmar ecotype had higher levels of carbohydrate and proline than those of Shahraza under stress conditions. This property caused the Kashmar ecotype to have more relative water content and lower slope change of grain yield and essential oil yield as compared with Shahreza. In normal conditions and severe drought stress, 85% and 93% of essential oil components of Kashmar and 82% and 93% essential oil components of Shahreza ecotype were identified, respectively. Drought stress increased the percentage of essential oil in both ecotypes and the essential oil of Kashmar contained more antioxidant. In general, under mild stress conditions, the highest essential oil yield was obtained due to an increase in essential oil content and no significant reduction in grain yield. Thus, it seems that the application of mild controlled stress improves the quality of Nigella sativa without affecting its quantitative performance.
S. Morady; M. Pouryousef; B. Andalibi
Abstract
Foliar application of micronutrients is a useful technique for rapid absorption of minerals in the plants and avoids soil contamination. To evaluate the effect of foliar application of micronutrients (iron and zinc) on yield, yield components, and essential oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), an ...
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Foliar application of micronutrients is a useful technique for rapid absorption of minerals in the plants and avoids soil contamination. To evaluate the effect of foliar application of micronutrients (iron and zinc) on yield, yield components, and essential oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), an experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan during the growing season of 2012. In this experiment, the effect of foliar application of Fe (using ferrous sulphate) at four concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 3 gr.L-1) and foliar application of Zn (using zinc sulphate) at three concentrations (0, 2 and 4 gr.L-1) were investigated. Results showed that the majority of measured traits including number of umbels per plant, 1000-seed weight, grain yield, essential oil content and essential oil yield were significantly affected (p≤ 0.01) by combined application of iron and zinc. Therefore, the highest grain yield (2637.96 kg ha-1) was obtained in foliar application of Fe + Zn at a concentration of 0.2%. In addition, the highest essential oil content (2.88%) and essential oil yield (75.71 kg ha-1) were obtained in combined application of Fe 0.3% and Zn 0.2% and the lowest content of mentioned traits was obtained in control.
F. Mohtashami; M. Pouryousef; B. Andalibi; F. Shekari
Abstract
To study the effects of seed priming and foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on yield and essence of fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill.) under drought stress condition, a field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, University of Zanjan in the spring of 2012. The experiment was conducted ...
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To study the effects of seed priming and foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on yield and essence of fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill.) under drought stress condition, a field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, University of Zanjan in the spring of 2012. The experiment was conducted as a split plot based on complete randomized block design with three replications. In this study, drought stress at reproductive stage with control (full irrigation) was assigned to the main plots and different treatments of seed priming and foliar application with SA including dry seeds (without priming), seeds priming with SA at different concentrations (0, 800 and 1600μmol) and foliar application with SA at different concentrations (800 and 1600μmol) were assigned to the subplots. Results showed that the majority of measured traits including number of umbrella in plant, number of seeds in umbrella, seed thousand weight, harvest index, biomass, grain yield, and essential oil yield significantly decreased under drought stress condition and the essential oil content increased vice versa. Therefore, the highest seed (2925.6kg/ha) and essential oil yield (52.88kg/ha) were obtained in control, and the lowest amount of mentioned traits was obtained in drought stress condition. The results also showed that the effect of seed priming and foliar application of SA on the majority of measured traits was significant. There were no differences about seed yield and essential oil yield between foliar application and priming with SA at a concentration of 1600 μmol; however, the highest seed yield (2579.60kg/ha) and essential oil yield (63.15kg/ha) were obtained in foliar application with SA at a concentration of 1600μmol, and the lowest amounts of mentioned traits were obtained in dry seeds (without priming).
M.A. Kohanmoo; M. Aghaalikhani; F. Rejali
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the yield and quality response of two endemic chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) ecotypes from Bushehr and a commercial ecotype from Esfahan to biofertilizers, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the research farm of ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the yield and quality response of two endemic chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) ecotypes from Bushehr and a commercial ecotype from Esfahan to biofertilizers, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the research farm of Persian Gulf University (Boushehr campus). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete blocks design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Treatments consisted of chamomile ecotypes, mycorrhisal inoculationfection (with and without) and amount of micro-biophosphate fertilizer (0, 30 and 60kg.ha-1). Morphological traits and flower yield were evaluated from the flowering period onwards and trhen the essential oil concentration, Chamazulene and Apigenine 7-glycoside percentage were measured. Also, after final harvest, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of chamomile plant and soil were investigated. Result showed that except of the main effect of ecotypes, the other main and interaction effects on the measured traits were insignificant. The flower dry weight of Bushehr ecotypes (1 and 2) was %34 more than that of Esfahan ecotype in 1st year. However, in 2nd year, Boushehr2 had the highest dry flower yield (1132.66 kgha-1) followed by Boushehr1 and Esfahan ecotypes with 12.4 and 48.8 percent loss, respectively. In both years of experiment, Esfahan ecotype produced more chamazulene in essential oil and Boushehr ecotypes were superior treatments for Apigenine 7-glycoside in dried flower (p≤0.05). Although our finding revealed no significant effect of biofertilizers on all measured traits, a dry flower yield of 800-1000 kgha-1, 3 kg ha-1 essential oil, high percentage of chamazulene in essential oil (15-16% for Esfahan and 5-7% for Boushehr ecotypes), and considerable amount of Apigenine 7-glycoside in dried flower (10-12.7 kgha-1) demonstrated the high potential yield of chamomile using biofertilizers under field condition. Therefore, since chamomile showed a proper and vast ecological adaptation to the cultural conditions in Boushehr region, it could be introduced to the low input agricultural systems as a reliable part of local crop rotations.
M.T Ebadi; M. Rahmati; M. Azizi; M. Hassanzadeh Khayyat; A. Dadkhah
Abstract
Drying is one of the oldest methods for preservation of agricultural products after harvest. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to Lamiaceae family which is used as a medicinal and spice species. This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different drying methods on drying time, ...
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Drying is one of the oldest methods for preservation of agricultural products after harvest. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to Lamiaceae family which is used as a medicinal and spice species. This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different drying methods on drying time, essential oil content and composition of Basil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications and treatments were included two temperature levels (50 and 70 °C), six microwave powers (100, 180, 300, 450, 600 and 900 w), and two drying methods (sun and shade drying). The drying process was continued until the mass of the sample was reduced to a moisture content of about 0.10 on a dry basis or 10 % on a wet basis. Results indicated minimum and maximum drying times (4.1 minutes and 48 hours) were obtained at 900 w microwave powers and shade drying, respectively. Maximum and minimum essential oil content (1.3 and 0.3 %) were obtained by shade drying and in 450, 600 and 900 w, respectively. Microwave powers had negative effect on the main compositions of essential oil (geranial and methyl chavicol) but shade drying preserved them. According to the results, shade drying was identified as a suitable method for Basil, because essential oil content and composition were considerably maintained.
