Agriculture and horticulture
Mohammad Hadi Shojaei Baghini; Mahdi Naghizadeh
Abstract
Background and objectives: Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest aromatic plants in the world, known medicinally as the second domesticated medicinal plant in Iran. Drought stress, as oxidative stress, affects plant biochemical, physiological, and morphological responses. One of the ways to ...
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Background and objectives: Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest aromatic plants in the world, known medicinally as the second domesticated medicinal plant in Iran. Drought stress, as oxidative stress, affects plant biochemical, physiological, and morphological responses. One of the ways to increase plants' resistance to environmental stress is to use plant growth regulators such as brassinosteroids and melatonin. These hormones increase plant performance in both stress and non-stress conditions. Plant growth regulators, by affecting plant metabolites, stimulating phytohormone biosynthesis, enhancing nutrient absorption, improving defense mechanisms, stimulating root growth, and improving gas exchange, contribute to plants' quantitative and qualitative performance in stress and non-stress conditions. Although some research shows that the use of plant growth regulators such as brassinosteroid and melatonin, which are of natural origin and compatible with the environment, has a significant effect on reducing adverse effects caused by environmental stresses; however, the combined use of these plant hormones is less reported. Therefore, in this research, the influence of the foliar application of brassinosteroid and melatonin on some physiological traits, including amount of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, activity of antioxidant enzymes, accumulation of carbohydrates and proline, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide as well as quantitative and qualitative yield of cumin was examined under water deficit conditions.Methodology: This research was conducted in the research greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran. A factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with six replications was carried out in 2022. The experimental treatments included different levels of drought stress (100 % and 50 % field capacity; F.C.), melatonin (0 and 100 μM), and brassinosteroid (0 and 0.75 μM).Results: The results showed that water deficit increased the amount of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), as well as raised the accumulation of carbohydrates and proline in cumin plants. Indeed, brassinosteroids and melatonin significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities and the concentrations of osmolytes. It also decreased the levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide as well and electrolyte leakage in drought-stressed plants. Drought stress resulted in reduced cumin grain yield. In contrast, under these conditions, the percentage of cumin seed essential oil was increased. Foliar application of brassinosteroid and melatonin in stress and non-stress conditions improved cumin yield.Conclusion: Overall, it was concluded that the use of brassinosteroid and melatonin increased the resistance of cumin plants against drought stress by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, increasing the accumulation of compatible osmolytes such as proline and carbohydrate, and maintaining the stability of the membrane and ultimately enhancing the yield of cumin seeds. The application of melatonin and brassinosteroid also affected the quality of the product and increased the percentage of cumin essential oil; however, the positive effects of brassinosteroid and melatonin were greater than those of brassinosteroid or melatonin applied separately.
Improvement and breeding
M. Edalateyan Kharazi; A. Asgharzadeh
Abstract
To investigate the effects of drought stress, salicylic acid, and polyamines on plant growth yield and oil and seeds essential oil content in Nigella sativa L., a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in the research greenhouse of Shirvan Azad University ...
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To investigate the effects of drought stress, salicylic acid, and polyamines on plant growth yield and oil and seeds essential oil content in Nigella sativa L., a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications in the research greenhouse of Shirvan Azad University in 2020-21 cropping year. The experimental treatments included drought stress at four levels (25, 50, 75, and 100% of field capacity) as the first factor and foliar application of salicylic acid, putrescine, and spermidine each at two levels (0.5 and 1 mM) as the second factor. The results showed that the highest number of fertile capsules per plant (12.66), number of seeds per capsule (96.24), and harvest index (58.69%) were obtained in the 100% of field capacity treatment. Also, the highest seed yield per pot was obtained in the 100% of field capacity treatment (16.05 g) and 1 mM salicylic acid (11.46 g). On the other hand, the highest plant height (62.5 cm), dry weight of single plant (6.44 g), biomass in pot (32.2 g), oil content (31.21%), and oil yield (5.71 g.pot-1) were obtained in the treatment of 100% of field capacity + 1 mM salicylic acid and also, the highest essential oil content (0.09%) was obtained in the treatment of 25% of field capacity + 1 mM salicylic acid. Overall, the results showed that full irrigation (100% of field capacity) + 1 mM salicylic acid foliar application was the best treatment for N. sativa under greenhouse conditions. In general, the plant growth characteristics decreased with increasing stress severity, but the negative effects of drought stress were moderated with increasing the salicylic acid foliar application.
Agriculture and horticulture
B. Yousefi; M.H. Lebaschy; F. Sefidkon; H. Safari
Abstract
To investigate the effects of planting density and organic fertilizers on the yield traits of Satureja spicigera (K.Koch) Boiss. under the Kermanshah rainfed conditions, an experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications in Kermanshah ...
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To investigate the effects of planting density and organic fertilizers on the yield traits of Satureja spicigera (K.Koch) Boiss. under the Kermanshah rainfed conditions, an experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on complete randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications in Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in 2016-2020 crop years. The main factor and sub-factor were fertilizer (rotten cow manure, enriched straw, and field soil (control)) and plant density (2.66, 4, and 8 plants.m-2), respectively. To have the desired densities, plants were grown with a distance of 50 cm between the rows and 25, 50, and 75 cm on the rows. The results showed that the traits including diameter, height, canopy area, fresh and dry weight of plant, fresh and dry yield per hectare, and essential oil yield per hectare were significantly different between the years, plant densities, and fertilizer treatments. The highest fresh yield (3639.3 kg.ha-1) was obtained in the rotten cow manure+ high plant density treatment and the highest dry yield (2105 kg.ha-1) and essential oil yield (72.59 kg.ha-1) in the enriched straw+ high plant density one. The results showed that the best fertilizer and plant density treatment for S. spicigera was straw enriched with ammonium sulfate and 8 plants.m-2.
Agriculture and horticulture
M. Ahmadvand; A. Javanmard; M. Haghaninia; M.R. Morshedloo
Abstract
Intercropping systems and biofertilizers application play an important role in improving the quantity and quality of plant products. In this regard, to evaluate the effects of Myco-Root biofertilizer on the quantitative and qualitative traits of Thymus vulgaris L. in intercropping with Cicer arietinum ...
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Intercropping systems and biofertilizers application play an important role in improving the quantity and quality of plant products. In this regard, to evaluate the effects of Myco-Root biofertilizer on the quantitative and qualitative traits of Thymus vulgaris L. in intercropping with Cicer arietinum L., an experiment was carried out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) at the faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh during 2020 growing season. Treatments included thyme sole culture, thyme sole culture inoculated with Myco-Root, chickpea sole culture, chickpea sole culture inoculated with Myco-Root, intercropping of one row chickpea+one row thyme (1:1), planting pattern of 1:1 inoculated with Myco-Root, intercropping of two rows chickpea+one row thyme (2:1), and planting pattern of 2:1 inoculated with Myco-Root. The results demonstrated that the highest seed (751.40 kg.ha-1) and biological (1645.6 kg.ha-1) yields of chickpea were obtained in the chickpea monoculture inoculated with Myco-Root, which was not significantly different from planting pattern of 2:1 inoculated with Myco-Root. Moreover, the highest dry matter yield of thyme (189.47 g.m-2) was achieved in the sole culture with application of mycorrhizal fungus. Also, the highest percentage (1.69) and essential oil yield (3.31 g.m-2) of thyme was obtained in planting pattern of 1:1 with application of mycorrhizal fungus in first harvest. Thymol, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene were recognized as the main essential oil compounds. The highest percentage of thymol and γ-terpinene was obtained in planting pattern of 1:1 inoculated with mycorrhizal fungus. Also, the highest agronomical (land equivalent ratio, area harvest equivalent ratio, area time equivalent ratio, and land use efficiency) and economic (intercropping advantage, monetary advantage index, and system productivity index) indices were achieved in the intercropping ratio of 2:1 and 1:1 with application of Myco-Root biofertilizer, respectively. In general, the results showed that the Myco-Root biofertilizer application in intercropping, especially the planting pattern of 1:1, could improve the quantity and quality of thyme essential oil.
Improvement and breeding
M. Rahghoshahi; Kh. Panahi Kord Laghari; M.M. Rahimi
Abstract
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the valuable medicinal plants cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, facing to drought stress. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of algae extract and humic acid on cumin under drought stress conditions as a factorial split ...
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Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the valuable medicinal plants cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, facing to drought stress. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of algae extract and humic acid on cumin under drought stress conditions as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in a farm located in Boyer-Ahmad city, 35 km from Yasouj, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in 2019 and 2020 years. The experimental factors included drought stress as the main factor at three levels of irrigation after consumption of 35 (control), 70, and 90% of soil moisture and humic acid at two levels of 0 and 300 mg.L-1 and algae at two levels of 0 and 2 L.ha-1 as the sub-factors. The results showed that foliar application of humic acid and algae extract had a significant effect on essential oil yield, number of branches, biological yield, grain yield, 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per umbrella, number of umbrellas per plant, plant height, and essential oil percentage and improved the negative effects of drought stress. The highest grain yield, 1000-grain weight, essential oil yield, and number of grains per umbrella were obtained by foliar application of humic acid and algae extract. The application of humic acid was more effective than algae extract on traits except yield and essential oil percentage which were more affected by algae extract. In general, the results showed that foliar application of humic acid and algae extract could moderate the adverse stress conditions and increase cumin yield by 41.4%.
Agriculture and horticulture
F. Salarpour Qhoraba; H. Farahbakhsh
Abstract
To investigate the effects of chitosan foliar application on the various physiological and biochemical (proline, protein, antioxidant enzymes, and percentage and essential oil yield) characteristics and dry matter yield of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) under drought stress conditions, a split-plot experiment ...
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To investigate the effects of chitosan foliar application on the various physiological and biochemical (proline, protein, antioxidant enzymes, and percentage and essential oil yield) characteristics and dry matter yield of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) under drought stress conditions, a split-plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Lalehzar city, Bardsir county, Kerman province in 2019. The drought stress at four levels (35, 50, 65, and 80% of available moisture discharge) and the chitosan concentration at five levels (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 gram chitosan per liter of acetic acid) were considered as the main and sub plots, respectively. The results showed that the drought stress increased proline, antioxidant enzymes, and percentage and essential oil yield and decreased the dry matter yield significantly. The proline, antioxidant enzymes, dry matter yield, and essential oil percentage increased significantly with increasing the chitosan concentration, which resulted in a significant increase in the essential oil yield as the most important quality index in thyme. The protein and gayacol peroxidase enzyme were not affected by chitosan foliar application. In general, the results of this research showed that the higher chitosan concentrations (1.5 gram chitosan per liter of acetic acid) were more effective in ameliorating the damages induced by the drought stress and achieving the higher yield.
Agriculture and horticulture
F. Darabi; N. Abbasi; M.J. Zarea
Abstract
To investigate the role of putrescine and 24-epibrassinolide on the morphophysiological changes of Ocimum basilicum L. in the water deficiency tolerance, an experiment was conducted as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Agriculture ...
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To investigate the role of putrescine and 24-epibrassinolide on the morphophysiological changes of Ocimum basilicum L. in the water deficiency tolerance, an experiment was conducted as a factorial split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Ilam University during 2017-19 crop years. The experimental treatments included the drought stress at three levels (40, 80, and 120 mm evaporation from Class A evaporation pan) in the main plots and putrescine foliar application at three levels (Put0: 0, Put1: 0.5, and Put2: 2 mM) and 24-epibrassinolide foliar application at three levels (Br0: 0, Br1: 0.5, and Br2: 2 μM) factorially in the subplots. The results showed that the multiple interaction of year, drought stress, putrescine, and 24-epibrassinolide had a significant effect on the traits including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and basil essential oil percentage, so that the foliar application of 2 mM putrescine and 2 μM 24-epibrassinolide at all levels of drought stress, especially 80 mm evaporation from the evaporation pan, caused a further increase in these traits in both years of the experiment, which was higher in the first year than the second one. The optimal irrigation treatment (40 mm evaporation from evaporation pan) with application of 2 mM putrescine and 0.5 μM 24-epibrassinolide and drought stress treatments (80 and 120 mm evaporation from evaporation pan) with application of 2 mM putrescine and 2 μM 24-epibrassinolide had more leaves and secondary branches. The results of this study showed that the drought stress had an important role in reducing the basic factors in basil growth. In general, according to the results obtained, the foliar application of 2 mM putrescine with 2 μM 24-epibrassinolide to improve the physiological activities and increase the essential oil content, and 2 mM putrescine with 0.5 μM 24-epibrassinolide to increase the seed yield could be recommended in basil under drought stress conditions.
F. Helali Soltanahmadi; M.R. Amerian; M. Ghiyasi; H. Abasdokht
Abstract
The use of organic materials and nano-fertilizers to control the release of nutrients could be an effective step towards achieving sustainable agriculture. Drought stress is the most important factor limiting the growth and yield of medicinal plants including marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). This ...
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The use of organic materials and nano-fertilizers to control the release of nutrients could be an effective step towards achieving sustainable agriculture. Drought stress is the most important factor limiting the growth and yield of medicinal plants including marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). This experiment was conducted under field conditions in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications (replication in place) in the Research Farm of the Urmia and Salmas Agricultural Research Center. The first factor was irrigation method at two levels including normal irrigation and irrigation cut in the beginning of flowering, and the second factor was priming treatments in seven levels including the seeds primed with nano fertilizers (iron oxide, zinc oxide and oxide with concentrations of two in thousands) and the seeds primed with organic material (humic acid, 72 mg/L, salicylic acid 2000 micromole and ascorbic acid 200ppm) and control. The results indicated that the priming of seeds with nano materials and priming with organic materials caused an increased plant height, number of capitol, fresh and dry weight of the plant, fresh and dry weight of root, grain yield, harvest index, essential oil percentage, and mineral phosphorus percentage as well as increased quantitative and qualitative yield of marigold, especially in drought stress conditions. Therefore, its application could be recommended for sustainable and organic agriculture.
F. Ahmadi; M. Modarresi; M.A. Kohanmoo
Abstract
Despite the importance of the German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), as one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, there is little information about the genetic variation within and between its populations in Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of ...
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Despite the importance of the German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), as one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world, there is little information about the genetic variation within and between its populations in Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of 15 chamomile populations based on morphological characteristics in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Height, flower diameter, receptacle diameter, fresh flower weight, dry flower weight, wet biomass, dry biomass, flowering index, essential oil percentage and Chamazulene percentage were analyzed. The populations had a significant difference for all traits (P≤0.01). The phenotypic and genotypic variation was obtained to be more than 60% for dry weight, dry mass and Chamazulene content. Significant values were recorded for the heritability of the traits including percentage of kemazolen (94.04), the wet biomass (93.93), plant height (90.59), flower diameter (86.52), dry flower weight (84.15), and dry biomass (83.08). The highest and lowest yield (kg/ha) were related to Hamedan (9700) and Eurea (753.33) populations, respectively. The highest percentage of Chamazulene and essential oil content were obtained from Dehroud (14.10) and Jam-o-Riz (0.61), respectively. The flower diameter had the highest correlation (0.62) with the percentage of essential oil. Regression analysis for essential oil percentage as the dependent variable was performed and four traits including flower diameter, height, and fresh weight of flower were introduced into the model, explaining 59% of the variation. In the path analysis for essential oil percentage as the dependent variable, the highest direct effect was related to the fresh weight of flower (1.09) and the highest indirect effect was related to the fresh weight of flower (1.06). The cluster analysis grouped the populations into three groups that did not follow geographical distribution.
M. Eskandari
Abstract
Environmental stresses, particularly drought stress, are considered as one of the major obstacles in the production of horticultural crops in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semiarid regions like Iran. Brassinosteroids are of plant steroidal compounds with broad biological activities ...
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Environmental stresses, particularly drought stress, are considered as one of the major obstacles in the production of horticultural crops in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semiarid regions like Iran. Brassinosteroids are of plant steroidal compounds with broad biological activities that are able to increase plant performance through changes in plant metabolism and protectecting them against environmental stresses especially drough stress. In a greenhouse study, the impact of three levels of irrigation at field capacity (FC), mild stress (FC2/3) and severe stress (FC1/3) and four concentrations of plant growth regulators of Article 28-Homobrassinolid including zero, 10-10 M, 10-8 M and 10-6 M were investigated on some traits of Satureja Bachtiarica Bunge. The results showed that reducing irrigation had a significant effect on the reduction of growth parameters, including root length, root dry weight, stem diameter, branch number, plant height, shoot yield and total yield. Concentration of 10-8 M 28-Homobrassinolid significantly increased root dry weight, stem diameter, branch number, plant height, and total yield. Oil percentage showed a significant increase at 1% level of probability by reducing irrigation as it increased from 0.36% in full irrigation upto 0.87% in severe stress and use of 10-8 M hormone. Generally, our results showed that the use of 28-Homobrassinolid could increase dry matter yield through stimulating growth parameters and it was considered as as a good strategy to deal with water stress conditions.
E. Jamshidi; A. Ghalavand; F. Sefidkon; E. Goltaph
Abstract
In order to study the effects of different nutrition systems (Organic and Chemical) on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Fennel (Foeniculum valgare Mill.) under water deficit stress, an experiment was conducted as split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications ...
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In order to study the effects of different nutrition systems (Organic and Chemical) on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Fennel (Foeniculum valgare Mill.) under water deficit stress, an experiment was conducted as split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the field station of Tarbiat Modares University in Peykan Shahr during cropping season of 2009. In this study, the main plots were three irrigation regime levels (Soil water content of 40% as the control treatment (C1), 60% (C2) and 80% (C3)) and sub-plots were different nutrition systems (10 ton/ha cattle manure, 10 ton/ha spent mushroom compost, 5 ton/ha cattle manure + 5 tan/ha spent mushroom compost and chemical fertilizer). Although the result showed that water deficit stress caused an increase in essential oil percentage, grain yield and essential oil yield decreased extremely under water deficit stress. The results showed that different nutrition systems significantly affected grain yield, essential oil yield and fenchone (p ≤ 0.01). Mean comparisons showed that using mushroom compost in favorable irrigation condition resulted in maximum essential oil yield (31.8 Kg.ha-1). This result was confirmed as the higher grain yield (1289.8 Kg.ha-1) obtained in the same treatment.
A. Alizadeh Sahzabi; E. Sharifi Ashorabadi; A.H. Shiranirad; B. Abaszadeh
Volume 23, Issue 3 , November 2007, , Pages 416-431
Abstract
The effect of applying different methods and nitrogen levels on yield and essential oil of savagery (Satureja hortensis L.) was investigated using a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications in 2005, Karaj, Iran. The treatments included application of solid nitrogen ...
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The effect of applying different methods and nitrogen levels on yield and essential oil of savagery (Satureja hortensis L.) was investigated using a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications in 2005, Karaj, Iran. The treatments included application of solid nitrogen in soil with 4 levels 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha and spray of nitrogen on foliage with 4 levels 0, 4.5, 6 and 7.5 percent. The nitrogen applied three times equally. The results showed, effect of treatments on biological yield, plant height, essential oil percentage, flowering shoot yield, number of lateral branch (P< 0.01) and harvest index were significant (P<0.05). Interaction of treatments on essential oil percentage, essential oil yield, flowering shoot yield (P<0.01) and biological yield (P<0.05) were significant. This experiment found that applying 100 kg pure nitrogen in soil with 4.5% produced highest biological yield, seed and flowering shoot with means of 4424, 875.3 and 1855 kg ha-1, respectively. The results showed, increase of nitrogen application caused decrease of essential oil percentage. Highest essential oil percentage related to application of 6% of nitrogen solution with mean of 2.13%. Utilization of 150 kg of solid nitrogen with 7.5% of nitrogen solution produced highest plant height with mean of 66.88 cm, highest lateral branch with mean of 18 and highest essential oil yield with mean of 33.7 kg ha-1. Highest harvest index related to control with mean of 25.98%. The results showed that use of sprayed nitrogen on foliage decrease nitrogen application. Therefore, this method could be suitable for sustainable agriculture.
