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Aims: Comparing the effect of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with different levels of chemical fertilizers on increasing yield and absorption of nutrients in order to achieve an environmentally friendly method to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in lettuce cultivation in poor soils.In this study, to improve the nutritional quality of red lettuce under poor soil conditions, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and a combination of both) colonization and chemical fertilizer were compared using two different methods.The results showed that the seed coating method increased fresh yield of lettuce, which was more effective than NPK 25 and 50% in both seasons. The most beneficial effects of soil inoculation and seed coating on colonization percentages were measured when lettuce plants were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae species. The greatest root length was observed when seed coating method was used to inoculate lettuce plants with Funneliformis mosseae. The highest root volume was observed when lettuce plants were inoculated with combined mycorrhizal treatment in the seed coating method and NPK 100%. In both growing seasons, the concentration of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were increased in plants treated with mycorrhizal fungi and NPK-fertilizer compared to untreated plants.Finally, the combined mycorrhizal treatment resulted significantly decrease in nitrate accumulation. So, to increase food safety, and protect the environment, it is recommended to use mycorrhizal fungi, especially combined mycorrhizal treatment (Funneliformis mosseae + Rhizophagus intraradices), alternative 25 up to 50% of chemical fertilizers in lettuce culture.Methods: Comparing the effect of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with different levels of chemical fertilizers on increasing yield and absorption of nutrients in order to achieve an environmentally friendly method to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in lettuce cultivation in poor soils.In this study, to improve the nutritional quality of red lettuce under poor soil conditions, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and a combination of both) colonization and chemical fertilizer were compared using two different methods.The results showed that the seed coating method increased fresh yield of lettuce, which was more effective than NPK 25 and 50% in both seasons. The most beneficial effects of soil inoculation and seed coating on colonization percentages were measured when lettuce plants were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae species. The greatest root length was observed when seed coating method was used to inoculate lettuce plants with Funneliformis mosseae. The highest root volume was observed when lettuce plants were inoculated with combined mycorrhizal treatment in the seed coating method and NPK 100%. In both growing seasons, the concentration of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were increased in plants treated with mycorrhizal fungi and NPK-fertilizer compared to untreated plants.Finally, the combined mycorrhizal treatment resulted significantly decrease in nitrate accumulation. So, to increase food safety, and protect the environment, it is recommended to use mycorrhizal fungi, especially combined mycorrhizal treatment (Funneliformis mosseae + Rhizophagus intraradices), alternative 25 up to 50% of chemical fertilizers in lettuce culture.Results: Comparing the effect of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with different levels of chemical fertilizers on increasing yield and absorption of nutrients in order to achieve an environmentally friendly method to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in lettuce cultivation in poor soils.In this study, to improve the nutritional quality of red lettuce under poor soil conditions, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and a combination of both) colonization and chemical fertilizer were compared using two different methods.The results showed that the seed coating method increased fresh yield of lettuce, which was more effective than NPK 25 and 50% in both seasons. The most beneficial effects of soil inoculation and seed coating on colonization percentages were measured when lettuce plants were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae species. The greatest root length was observed when seed coating method was used to inoculate lettuce plants with Funneliformis mosseae. The highest root volume was observed when lettuce plants were inoculated with combined mycorrhizal treatment in the seed coating method and NPK 100%. In both growing seasons, the concentration of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were increased in plants treated with mycorrhizal fungi and NPK-fertilizer compared to untreated plants.Finally, the combined mycorrhizal treatment resulted significantly decrease in nitrate accumulation. So, to increase food safety, and protect the environment, it is recommended to use mycorrhizal fungi, especially combined mycorrhizal treatment (Funneliformis mosseae + Rhizophagus intraradices), alternative 25 up to 50% of chemical fertilizers in lettuce culture.Conclusion: Comparing the effect of mycorrhizal fungi inoculation with different levels of chemical fertilizers on increasing yield and absorption of nutrients in order to achieve an environmentally friendly method to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in lettuce cultivation in poor soils.In this study, to improve the nutritional quality of red lettuce under poor soil conditions, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and a combination of both) colonization and chemical fertilizer were compared using two different methods.The results showed that the seed coating method increased fresh yield of lettuce, which was more effective than NPK 25 and 50% in both seasons. The most beneficial effects of soil inoculation and seed coating on colonization percentages were measured when lettuce plants were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae species. The greatest root length was observed when seed coating method was used to inoculate lettuce plants with Funneliformis mosseae. The highest root volume was observed when lettuce plants were inoculated with combined mycorrhizal treatment in the seed coating method and NPK 100%. In both growing seasons, the concentration of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were increased in plants treated with mycorrhizal fungi and NPK-fertilizer compared to untreated plants.Finally, the combined mycorrhizal treatment resulted significantly decrease in nitrate accumulation. So, to increase food safety, and protect the environment, it is recommended to use mycorrhizal fungi, especially combined mycorrhizal treatment (Funneliformis mosseae + Rhizophagus intraradices), alternative 25 up to 50% of chemical fertilizers in lettuce culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of four concentrations of humic acid (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg ha−1, HA applied to the soil) and kinetin (0, 25, 50, and 75 mg L−1, KT, foliar sprayed) on vegetative growth, yield and biochemical attributes of radish cv. Watermelon, grown in two seasons of spring and autumn, were investigated. Results showed that, the number of leaves per plant, leaf area and chlorophyll content increased with application of HA and KT in both seasons, while the high levels of treatments had no significant effect on leaf number per plant and chlorophyll content in spring season. The root diameter, fresh weight and yield increased significantly with application of HA and KT in both seasons, though, this increase was noticeable in the autumn season. Our results also showed that radish root treated by HA and KT exhibited higher root firmness, vitamin C, anthocyanin content and total soluble solids (TSS), especially in autumn cultivation. Macronutrient contents of root including magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), nitrogen (N), and calcium (Ca) were significantly enhanced by HA and KT, however high concentration of KT in combination with high concentration of HA decreased some nutrient contents. Generally, the results of this study demonstrated that cultivation season is one of the most important management tools to minimize the negative effects of high temperature during root development. In addition, the benefits of KT spray combined with HA were inconsistent between both seasons, but showed more in the autumn crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, the exogenous application of hydrogen sulfide (H2S; 1, 2 or 3 mM) and phenylalanine (PA; 2.5, 5, or 7.5 mM) to alleviate chilling injury and enhancing antioxidant activity and membrane stability of eggplant fruits (Solanum melongena cv. Hadrian) during storage at 7℃ for 21 days was investigated. Results indicated that H2S and PA alleviated chilling injury and reduced electrolyte leakage percentage and malondialdehyde accumulation. Exogenous application of H2S and PA maintained significantly higher levels of proline, total phenols, and flavonoids. It was also found that H2S and PA reduced the hydrogen peroxide accumulation with up-regulated activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. These results indicated that H2S and PA alleviated chilling injury of eggplant fruit may through the enhancement of reactive oxygen species scavenging system activity, proline, and phenolic accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of different levels of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on vegetative fresh bulb yield, quality and biochemical attributes of sweet fennel were investigated in spring 2017 and 2018. Treatments consisted of 0, 50, 100, or 150 kg ha−1 of N and K in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that, the bulb fresh yield increased with application of N and K in both years, while the higher level of K had significant adverse effect in first year. Results also showed that sweet fennel bulb treated by N and K exhibited higher vitamin C, total phenols and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity, especially in first year. In both years, alone or combined application of N and K increased total soluble solids (TSS) content as compared to control, and this effect was more pronounced in 2017 season. Macronutrient contents of bulb including magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), K, N, and calcium (Ca) were significantly enhanced by NK fertilizer, however an alone application of K decreased Ca and Mg nutrient contents. Therefore, to improve fresh bulb yield, quality and antioxidant capacity in sweet fennel, 150 kg ha−1 K and 100 kg ha−1 N is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, the impact of foliar spraying of ascorbic acid (AsA; 100, 200, and 300 mg L −1 ) and calcium lactate (CaL; 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g L −1 ) on sensory quality and antioxidant capacity of sweet pepper fruits during storage at 7 °C for 30 days was investigated. Our results showed that sweet pepper fruits sprayed by AsA or CaL exhibited higher fruit firmness, chlorophyll, carotenoid, total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) accompanied by lower weight loss. In addition to enhancing sensory quality, sweet pepper fruits sprayed by AsA or CaL exhibited higher DPPH scavenging capacity arising from higher phenols, flavonoids and ascorbic acid accumulation during storage at 7 °C for 30 days. According to our results, foliar AsA or CaL spraying may be promising strategies for enhancing sensory and nutritional quality of sweet pepper fruits during storage at 7 °C for 30 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To study the effect of fruit position on the stem on photoassimilate partitioning in two Iranian melon cultivars (Suski-Sabz and Jalali-Zard), a greenhouse experiment was conducted. Three fruit positions (retaining one fruit on 3rd, 7th or 11th node of two lateral branches) and three leaf positions for 13C-labelling (3rd, 8th or 12th leaf from the base of one branch) were compared during the experiment. Results showed that the time at which the maximum photosynthesis rate occurred in selected leaves was different according to leaf rank and this can affect the role and share of a given leaf in fruit feeding. Labelling data indicated that fruits retained on the 7th node import higher photoassimilates (13C-labelled) than the others and that the adjacent or nearer leaves have more important role in a given fruit feeding. These results could explain why experienced Iranian melon producers believe thinning (removing all female flowers before and after 6th–8th nodes of each lateral branch) results in largest fruits and the best quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is salt-sensitive, and salinity level can negatively affect yield. The study was conducted to investigate effect of water enriched with seaweed extract to overcome effects of salinity in 'New Red Fire' leafy lettuce cultivation. The highest and lowest leaf free proline content was in plants irrigated with saline water at EC 7 and 1.37 dS m−1. Increasing water EC level from 2.5 to 4 dS m−1 resulted in 9.3% increase in leaf total soluble solid content. The highest leaf vitamin C content was in plants treated by Chlorella vulgaris seaweed solution. Salinity levels could be classified into three groups: 1.37 and 2.5 dS m−1 (least damaging), 4 and 5 dS m−1 (tolerance threshold) and 7 dS m−1 (most damaging). Chlorella vulgaris seaweed solution appeared to neutralize adverse effects of salinity on plant fresh weight, free proline content, total soluble solid content, photosynthetic pigments content, radical scavenging activity, anthocyanin content, phenol and flavonoid content, peroxidase enzyme activity and leaf vitamin C content. Irrigation 'New Red Fire' with water enriched with Chlorella vulgaris seaweed extract is strongly recommended to overcome effects of salinity on lettuce morphological and physiological characteristics. Salinity levels higher than 5 dS m−1 can seriously damage 'New Red Fire' qualitative and quantitative properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]