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Introduction: Ethephon is an organophosphorus that used to stimulate plant growth. Royal Jelly is a substance with antioxidant properties and is effective for strengthening the immune system. This study aimed to determine the effect of Royal Jelly on sperm parameters, in vitro fertilization, and oxidative stress indicators in mice. Material & Methods: In this experimental study, 20 adult male mice (NMRI strain) were divided into four control and experimental groups. The experimental group received Ethephon at 480 mg/kg. Royal Jelly was then administered orally and daily at a concentration of 200 mg/kg alone and in combination with Ethephon. After treatment, sperm samples were collected from the tail of epididymis to investigate sperm parameters and in vitro fertilizing potential; moreover, the testis tissue was taken for oxidative stress examination. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (Ethic code: IR-UU_AEC-811/پد/3) Findings: A decrease in the sperm motility and viability, fertilization rate, blastocyst, and hatching embryos, as well as an increase in DNA damage, lack of nuclear maturation, and blocked embryos was observed in the experimental groups, compared to the control group. Moreover, Total Antioxidant Capacity and Malondialdehyde in the groups receiving Ethephon decreased and increased, respectively. However, Royal Jelly can prevent the adverse effects of oxidative stress (P

Background and Objectives: Ethephon is a good and effective plant growth regulator that improves product quality. It can probably interfere with the functioning of the reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethephon on in vitro fertility and oxidative stress in mice. Methods: In this experimental study, animals were divided into five groups; control (without receiving any substance), sham (receiving daily serum physiology orally), ethephon 1 (receiving daily 192 mg/kg orally), ethephon 2 (receiving daily 240 mg/kg orally), ethephon 3 (receiving daily 480 mg/kg). At the end of the 28-day treatment period, the ovaries were removed for in vitro fertilization. Oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in serum samples. Fertility parameters including oocyte percentage, fertilization percentage and embryo quality were also examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The results of the experiments showed that ethephon in all three doses reduced the TAC compared to the control group (p

This study was conducted having the goal of investigating the effects of Methyl Jasmonate on germination, growth and development indices and fruit yield in melon cultivars through two experiments separately performed at Labarotary and Research Station of Agricultural College, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2011. Germination test was conducted as a factorial experiment on the basis of completely randomized design with seed soaking in Methyl jasmonate at 5 levels (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM), two levels of the cultivar (Shapasandi and Annanasi), four replications and each replication consisting 500 seeds. The field experiment was performed as split split plot using randomized complete blocks with seed soaking in methyl jasmonate at three levels (0, 5 and 10 μM), spraying jasmonate at two levels (0 and 5 μM) and ethephon spraying at two levels (0 and 300 ppm) with four replications. The results of germination experiment demonstrated that the highest germination percentage (81.6%) and germination rate (6.74 seeds/day) was related to the 5 μM concentration of methyl jasmonate. Shapasandi cultivar had superiority over Annanasi cultivar. In the field experiment, the Jasmonat pre-treatment increased leaf area in Shapasandi cultivar by 39.2%. It was showed that the chlorophyll index (7.7%), leaf number (19.2%), as well as the number of fruits (40%) were increased in the presence of 5 μM of jasmonate. The 5μM seed pretreatment was superior to Jasmonat spraying in terms of increasing the fruit yield. Jasmonat spraying increased fruit weight and flesh thickness in Shapasandi cultivar. Seed pretreatment with 5μM jasmonate can be recommended for increasing the yield of Shapasandi and Annanasi cultivars.

The ever-increasing problem of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran has necessitated the demand to replacement of sugar beet plantation by more water-use efficient plants. Sweet sorghum is one of the sugars plants with low water requirements that potentiates cost-effective sugar production in different regions. However, physiological aspects of sugar yield in this plant is not completely understood. The present experiment studied the effect of sink (spike) removal (as a limiting factor for sugar production) and magnesium spraying (as an improving factor for plant growth) on photosynthetic pigments concentration and yield of two sweet sorghum cultivars. This research was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in two years (2014, 2015) in Shahroud Agricultural Research Center, Shahroud, Iran. Experimental factors included sweet sorghum cultivars (KFS2 and KFS3), sink removal treatments (control, mechanical removal and chemical removal of spike by ethephon) and spraying different concentrations of magnesium (0, 4 and 8 mM). Interaction of cultivars, sink removal and magnesium spraying levels was significant on photosynthetic pigments concentration, leading to increase in total sugar and sugar yield. The highest sugar yield in both cultivars was obtained from chemical removal of sink and 4 and 8 mM of magnesium application. In both of the studied cultivars, assimilate surface index was significantly affected by sink removal and the highest amount of this trait (2.65 g sugar per square meters of leaf area) was achieved from chemical removal of sink in KFS2. The latter results indicated that photosynthetic capacity of the sweet sorghum plants was enhanced by sink removal, especially when removed chemically, i.e. by ethephon. As no significant difference was observed between 4 and 8 mM in most examined traits, the 4 mM magnesium spraying was proven more suitable.

In temperate and sub-temperate regions, short length of growing season is one of the main obstacles to successful commercial production of grapes. In a quest to overcome this concern, a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design was conducted with three replications to evaluate the effect of application of dormax (1%) on early-blooming, followed by spraying ethephon (150 and 300 ppm), brassinosteroids (0.4 and 0.6 mg /L) and leaf removal at the onset of the leaf discoloration to examine the ripening time and quality characteristics of Askari grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Askari). Application of dormax had no significant increasing effect on carotenoid and decreasing effect on chlorophyll content of fruits. Leaf removal led to decreases in yield components such as cluster weight, number of berry in cluster and grape yield, and increases in the quality characteristics of grapes such as soluble solids, firmness, carotenoid content and color indices. Foliar-applied brassinosteroids (0.6 mg/L) + 1% dormax led to the best quantitative characteristics of grapes. The most desirable quality and color characteristics of fruits were observed with application of 1% dormax + 300 ppm ethephon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth regulators may leave positive effects on different plants. A factorial experiment using RCBD was conducted to study the impact of brassinosteroied (Br) and ethephon on growth and development of cantaloupe (Shahpasandi) in 2014, in Kerman University Research Station, Kerman, Iran. Three levels of Br (0, 0.5 and 0.75 mM) as seed soaking and two levels of ethphon (0 and 250 mg/l) as foliar spray at 4- and 20-leaf stage were used. Br was effective on all examined traits with the exception of leaf relative water content, leaf dry weight and fruit quality. Br at 0.75 mM was most effective, producing the highest amount of leaf area (200 cm2/plant), fruit weight per plant (2.9 kg) and total fruit yield per hectare (50 tons). Relative to control, Br increased fruit reducing sugars concentration, leaf soluble protein contents, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and fruit number by 50%, 21%, 23.8% and 42%, respectively. Ethephon treatment applied at 20-leaf stage increased fruit reducing sugar concentration, leaf chlorophyll, and fruit number by 52%, 19.1% and 14.8%, respectively. Interactive effects of the two factors was significant for chlorophyll a and carotenoids concentrations. However, Br at 0.75 mM level and ethephon applied at 20-leaf stage were more effective than other treatments but Br at 0.75 mM increased the fruit yield by 41%.

Background & Objective: Ethephon is one of the most important organophosphorus pesticides that has an adverse effect on the reproductive system and can impair the semen quality and decline the fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethephon on sperm parameters, characteristics and in vitro fertilizing potential in male mice. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 90 adult male mice were divided into 6 control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received ethephon at low, medium and high doses and the positive control group received neostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg). After treatment, animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation and sperm samples were collected from cauda epididymis to evaluate sperm parameters and in vitro fertilization. The level of p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: A decrease in sperm motility and viability was observed between the experimental groups compared to the control group. Nonetheless, ethephon can remarkably increase DNA damage and lack of nuclear maturation. In vitro fertilization results showed that ethephon significantly reduced embryonic quality and stages of embryological development compared to the control group. Also, the percentage of arrested embryos in the experimental groups was significantly enhanced compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present results showed that oxidative stress induced by ethephon causes damage to sperm DNA and subsequently decreases the quality of sperm and in vitro fertilizing potential in a dose dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early flowering in apricot trees is leading to the spring frost. Delay of flowering is one of approaches to prevent spring frost damage. Hence, a factorial experiment on the base of RCBD was conducted in agriculture faculty, Shahrood University at 2014-15 years. The effect of spraying with soybean oil (10 and 15 percent) and ethephon (100 and 200 mg/l) and combination of soybean oil (15 percent) and ethephon (200 mg/l) was evaluated on an early-flowering variety, Rajab Ali, and a late flowering variety, Khiveai. The results showed that soybean oil treatment delay flowering time only one day in compare to the control. Rajab Ali variety showed respectively eight and nine day delaying in beginning of flowering and full bloom when spraying with 15% soybean oil and 200 mg/l ethephon. However, the maximum delay in the beginning of flowering and full bloom in the Khiveai was respectively four and five day at 100 and 200 mg/l of ethephon. The pre-blossom frost damage on untreated trees was significantly higher in compare to trees treated with ethephon. The primary and secondary fruit set was a significant increase in the ethephon and soybean oil application. The result showed that delay of flowering in ethephon treatment in early flowering varity, RjabAli, more than late flowering, Khiveai.

This study was conducted having the goal of investigating the effects of Methyl Jasmonate on germination, growth and development indices and fruit yield in melon cultivars through two experiments separately performed at Labarotary and Research Station of Agricultural College, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in 2011. Germination test was conducted as a factorial experiment on the basis of completely randomized design with seed soaking in Methyl jasmonate at 5 levels (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM), two levels of the cultivar (Shapasandi and Annanasi), four replications and each replication consisting 500 seeds. The field experiment was performed as split split plot using randomized complete blocks with seed soaking in methyl jasmonate at three levels (0, 5 and 10 μM), spraying jasmonate at two levels (0 and 5 μM) and ethephon spraying at two levels (0 and 300 ppm) with four replications. The results of germination experiment demonstrated that the highest germination percentage (81.6%) and germination rate (6.74 seeds/day) was related to the 5 μM concentration of methyl jasmonate. Shapasandi cultivar had superiority over Annanasi cultivar. In the field experiment, the Jasmonat pre-treatment increased leaf area in Shapasandi cultivar by 39.2%. It was showed that the chlorophyll index (7.7%), leaf number (19.2%), as well as the number of fruits (40%) were increased in the presence of 5 μM of jasmonate. The 5μM seed pretreatment was superior to Jasmonat spraying in terms of increasing the fruit yield. Jasmonat spraying increased fruit weight and flesh thickness in Shapasandi cultivar. Seed pretreatment with 5μM jasmonate can be recommended for increasing the yield of Shapasandi and Annanasi cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing problem of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran has necessitated the demand to replacement of sugar beet plantation by more water-use efficient plants. Sweet sorghum is one of the sugars plants with low water requirements that potentiates cost-effective sugar production in different regions. However, physiological aspects of sugar yield in this plant is not completely understood. The present experiment studied the effect of sink (spike) removal (as a limiting factor for sugar production) and magnesium spraying (as an improving factor for plant growth) on photosynthetic pigments concentration and yield of two sweet sorghum cultivars. This research was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in two years (2014, 2015) in Shahroud Agricultural Research Center, Shahroud, Iran. Experimental factors included sweet sorghum cultivars (KFS2 and KFS3), sink removal treatments (control, mechanical removal and chemical removal of spike by ethephon) and spraying different concentrations of magnesium (0, 4 and 8 mM). Interaction of cultivars, sink removal and magnesium spraying levels was significant on photosynthetic pigments concentration, leading to increase in total sugar and sugar yield. The highest sugar yield in both cultivars was obtained from chemical removal of sink and 4 and 8 mM of magnesium application. In both of the studied cultivars, assimilate surface index was significantly affected by sink removal and the highest amount of this trait (2.65 g sugar per square meters of leaf area) was achieved from chemical removal of sink in KFS2. The latter results indicated that photosynthetic capacity of the sweet sorghum plants was enhanced by sink removal, especially when removed chemically, i.e. by ethephon. As no significant difference was observed between 4 and 8 mM in most examined traits, the 4 mM magnesium spraying was proven more suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth regulators may leave positive effects on different plants. A factorial experiment using RCBD was conducted to study the impact of brassinosteroied (Br) and ethephon on growth and development of cantaloupe (Shahpasandi) in 2014, in Kerman University Research Station, Kerman, Iran. Three levels of Br (0, 0.5 and 0.75 mM) as seed soaking and two levels of ethphon (0 and 250 mg/l) as foliar spray at 4- and 20-leaf stage were used. Br was effective on all examined traits with the exception of leaf relative water content, leaf dry weight and fruit quality. Br at 0.75 mM was most effective, producing the highest amount of leaf area (200 cm2 /plant), fruit weight per plant (2.9 kg) and total fruit yield per hectare (50 tons). Relative to control, Br increased fruit reducing sugars concentration, leaf soluble protein contents, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and fruit number by 50%, 21%, 23.8% and 42%, respectively. Ethephon treatment applied at 20-leaf stage increased fruit reducing sugar concentration, leaf chlorophyll, and fruit number by 52%, 19.1% and 14.8%, respectively. Interactive effects of the two factors was significant for chlorophyll a and carotenoids concentrations. However, Br at 0.75 mM level and ethephon applied at 20-leaf stage were more effective than other treatments but Br at 0.75 mM increased the fruit yield by 41%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]