Search

Introduction Olive (Olea europaea L.) is the most famous species of Oleaceae family that has edible fruits. The olive tree has a tendency to alternate bearing, leading often to the production of massive fruit yield in one year (on) and a very low fruit yield in the next year (off). Knowing the changes of nutrients in different stages of olive fruit growth and development in the “on” and “off” years provides the possibility of timely and correct application of fertilizers. This research was conducted in order to investigate the changes in the concentration of mineral elements, starch, and protein of olive fruit in the on and off-years. Materials and Methods This research was carried out in the years 2018-2019 at Olive Dalaho Research Station in 2018 and 2019 at Dalahu Olive Research Station in Kermanshah (Lat. 32° 30´ N, Long. 45° 51´, Alt. 560 m.), west of Iran. The experiment was carried out in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications and three local olive varieties, namely Deira, Zagros and Meshkat. All tested 11-year-old trees were under similar conditions in terms of pruning, drip irrigation, fertilization and pest and disease control. Measurement were carried out on N, P, K, Zn, B, starch, and protein in young leaves, fruits, old leaves, and roots from the time of kernel hardening (in early June) until fruit ripening (in mid-November) every 40 days using both "on" and "off" year trees. The samples included 20 broad leaves from the middle part of one-year-old and newly-formed vegetative branches, the growing fruits of the current year, and the feeding roots of 30 cm depth under the canopy of the tree crown. Measurements on potassium concentration were made by a flame photometer (model PFP7 made by JENWAY, England), phosphorus by colorimetric method using spectrophotometer, nitrogen and protein by Kjeldahl method, boron and zinc elements using an atomic absorption device (Perking Elmer model 31/40). Starch concentration of the dry matter was measured by Morley's method. Results and Discussion Monthly changes of mineral elements in leaves and young fruits, starch, and protein concentration in old leaves and roots were significant in the on and off years. The monthly changes in the concentration of the mineral elements corresponded to the pattern of the fruit growth curve (double sigmoid). The concentration of N, K, B, and Zn in young leaves decreased from the beginning of June to the middle of July (the time of endocarp hardening) and then increased slightly. The monthly changes in concentration of mineral elements in leaves and young fruits, starch, and protein in old leaves and roots were significant in the on and off years. The monthly changes of the mineral elements corresponded to the pattern of the fruit growth curve (double sigmoid). The concentration of N, K, B and Zn in young leaves decreased from the beginning of June to the middle of July (the time of endocarp hardening) and then increased slightly. Mashkat cultivar had the highest and Deira and Zagros cultivars had the lowest concentration of nitrogen in young leaves. The concentration of nitrogen has a direct effect on vegetative growth, fruit formation, fruit yield, and shoot growth. There was a positive and significant relationship between fruit nitrogen and phosphorus and zinc concentration of the fruit, but young leaf nitrogen had a negative and significant correlation with phosphorus and zincof the fruit. Deira cultivar had the highest and Meshkat the lowest zinc concentration of the young leaves. Zinc plays a significant role in the function of enzymatic systems, synthesis of nucleic acids, protein and auxin metabolism. There was a positive correlation between phosphorus concentration in young leaves with phosphorus concentration in fruit and leaf starch, but there was a negative correlation with leaf and root protein concentration. The concentration of starch in the old leaves and roots increased and then decreased in the on-year until June. The concentration of root starch decreased slowly from June to November in off-year trees. The concentration of protein in old leaves and roots followed a double sigmoid curve, it decreased sharply until mid-July. From the mid-July to the end of August, the protein concentration of the old leaves slowly and strongly in old leaves and roots, respectively. Conclusions Considering the observed changes in the concentration of mineral elements in the leaves and fruits according to the fruit growth pattern, especially in the spring, soil application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in January (before flowering), foliar spraying of nitrogen, potassium, zinc, and boron in June (after fruit set) and nitrogen and potassium amendments in August (after endocarp hardening) is recommended for the olive orchards of the studied region.

Introduction UCB-1 hybrid rootstock is propagated from the seed of a controlled cross between a P. atlantica female and a P. integerrima male. Clonal propagation of this rootstock is also necessary since it produces identical genotypes. UCB1 has recently been introduced in Iran. However, little research has been done on this subject. Water stress is one of the most important environmental stresses and occurs for several reasons, including low rainfall, high and low temperatures, salinity, and high intensity of light, among others. Drought stress is a multidimensional stress and causes changes in the physiological, morphological, biochemical, and molecular traits in plants. Proline is also found widely in plants and accumulates in large quantities in response to environmental stresses such as drought. It is the essential amino acids that accumulate in different tissues of the plant, especially in the leaves through the effect of water stress, and that the accumulation of it has a function in the regulation of osmosis in the cell as the proline is increased in the cytoplasm to counterbalance effort osmosis cell sap. Proline is an indicator of water stress tolerance and its increase in the leaf proof that the plant suffered drought stress, also is the way the plant tolerance to drought stress. Materials and Methods A pot experiment was conducted, to investigate the effectiveness of foliar applied proline in mitigating the concurrent effects of drought stresses on UCB1 rootstock, at greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shahrekord. Experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with split arrangement having three replications. Chl. and carotenoid contents were determined according to Lichtenthaler (1987). Leaf discs were obtained from expanded leaves of each pot in the morning. The leaf discs were weighed immediately to obtain the fresh weight (FW), and submerged in distilled water for 4 h at 4◦C in dark condition and then weighed to prepare turgor weight (TW). The leaves were dried in a forced-air oven at 70◦C for 24 h, and the dry weight (DW) was recorded. The RWC of samples was calculated using the following equation (Bastam et al., 2012): RWC = [(FW–DW)/(TW–DW)] × 100 Levels of glycine betaine were quantified as described previously by Arakawa et al. (1990). To determine the free-proline concentration, leaves were homogenized in 5 ml of ethanol at 95%. Proline concentration was calculated with a standard curve and expressed as µg g−1fresh mass (Paquin and Lechasseur, 1979). Results and Discussion The UCB1 proximate analysis in the present study depicted that imposition of drought stress increased the leaf and root proline content and electrolyte leakage. Exogenous application of proline as foliar spray significantly increased the moisture content of leaf and root, RWC, Chl a and total chlorophyll. Exogenous proline application upregulated leaf and root proline contents and decreased the lipid peroxidation (decrease electrolyte leakage), resulting into improvement in chlorophyll contents. 150 mg. l-1 proline application gave maximum alleviation against stress. Numerous reports depict that the exogenous application of proline as a foliar spray can play an important role in enhancing plant tolerance against drought stress, and our results are consistent with them. This ameliorating effect of exogenously applied proline can take the form of osmoprotection, cryoprotection, or protection against reactive oxygen species.For example, in various plant species growing under stress conditions, exogenously supplied proline provided osmoprotection and facilitated plant growth. Normally, proline accumulation in plants, is in response to drought or salinity stress occurs in the cytosol where it contributes substantially to the cytoplasmic osmotic adjustment. It actively takes part in plant osmotic adjustment under stressful environmental conditions. In addition to its role as an osmolyte for osmotic adjustment, it actively takes part to stabilize subcellular structures, biological membranes, proteins, and scavenge free radicals. It also plays a vital role in buffering cellular redox potential under stressful environmental conditions. Conclusion In summary, our results showed that, drought induces a decrease in moisture content, RWC, T Chl and carotenoids and an increase in some osmoregulators (proline, glycine betaine, TSC). The most favorable treatment was 150 mg.l-1 proline foliar spray. 150 mg.l-1 proline application gave maximum alleviation against stress. Foliar application increased the moisture content of leaf and root, as well as increased the Chl a, total, RWC and proline content of leaf and root. It can be suggested that the foliar application of proline (150 mg L-1) used as a plants defense factor against drought stress conditions.

Introduction Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) belongs to the Rosaceae family, which due to vegetative propagation problems, in vitro propagation is recommended to increase mass and disease-free production. Micropropagation has many advantages over other vegetative methods. Although the most suitable organ that preserves the genetic characteristics of the cultivar is bud meristem, plant regeneration from meristem culture is difficult in many species of woody plants, so micro-grafting is a suitable technique to overcome these problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of scion size and origin of commercial sweet cherry cultivars interact with micrografting on the vegetative rootstocks.Materials and Methods In this study, factorial experiment was used as a test unit in a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors in five replications and ten seedlings per replication. The first factor was cultivar in seven levels (B: Bing, D: Dovomres, H: Haj Yousefi, P: Pishres, S: Siah- Mashhad, T: Takdaneh, Z: Zard) and the second factor was scion type in four levels (M1R1: 2 mm in vivo explant, M2R1: 5 mm in vivo explant , M1R2: 2 mm in vitro explant and M2R2: 5 mm in vitro explant). To prepare the scion, 1.5 to 2 cm long explants were isolated from shoot tips and then disinfected with 75% ethanol and 20% Sodium hypochlorite. After rinsing with distilled water, the shoot tips with 2 and 5 mm length were extracted for in vivo explants. In vitro explants were obtained from shoo tips that was previously established in MS culture medium with supplement of 1 mg.l-1 of BAP. The meristems were prepared in 2 and 5 mm and used as in vitro explant. 5 cm length in vitro shoots of sweet cherry ‘Gisella 6’ was used as rootstock. Micro-grafting was performed according to the standard method for sweet cherries. Micro-grafted plantlets were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 1 mg.l- l BAP, and kept under low light (100 lux) condition for one week, then transferred to growth chamber at 27.1 °C photoperiods 16/8 hrs light/darkness (1500 lux). In order to induce root, grafted plantlets were transferred to Perlite: MS medium supplement with 1 mg.l- l IBA. After rooting, plants were placed in polyethylene pots containing perlite: peatmoss (1:1) for acclimation. Micro-grafting success indices were recorded in each of the micro-grafted plantlets. The data were analyzed by SAS statistical software (9.1) and the means were compared by Duncan's multiple range test (1 and 5 % of probability levels).Results and Discussion The results showed that in all indices there was a significant difference between scion types and cultivar scion type interactions except grafting time, but there was no difference between cultivars (except longitudinal growth of scion). Among the scion types, the 5 mm in vitro scion (M2R2) had the highest micro-grafting success rate (42%), number of leaves (3.7), longitudinal growth (6.3 cm) and taken grafting time (two days). Finally, in successful micro-grafted plants, ‘Pishres’ cultivar had better results in rooting (32.8%) and ‘Zard’ cultivar in acclimation (3.4%) traits. Probably the presence of leaves led to better nutrient supply and surface contact, so it mostly improved the success of micrografting technique. In this study, micro-grafting success indices were lower than previous reports using seedling rootstocks. This might be due to difficult grafting operations, poor rootstock-scion communication, low physiological activity, and high in vitro oxidase activity. In the type of scion, micro-grafting success rate of 5 mm in vitro scions (include leaf primordia), was better than 2 mm scions (without leaf primordia). These results were consistent with most reports in sweet cherries and other stone fruit that were more successful in micro-grafting using larger in vitro explant.Conclusion Based on our results, it can be concluded that the micro-grafting method in sweet cherry micro-propagation is a fast practical method with high potential for production and regeneration of healthy orchards, which is also possible for other cultivars. In micro-grafting success, in vitro explants are preferable to explants taken directly from in vivo mother trees, and the use of larger explants for scion is recommended due to the presence of leaf primordia in micro-grafting success. However, smaller-size explants are more likely to produce healthy plants.

The effects of the encapsulation of Satureja bachtiarica essential oil with chitosan on the shelf life and quality of pomegranate seeds were studied in an experiment based on a completely randomized design with eight treatments, including different ratios of chitosan to S. bachtiarica essential oil (control, 1:1–0.3, 1:1–0.6, 1:2–0.3, 1:2–0.6, 1:3–0.3, 1:3–0.6) and three replications. The results showed that the highest fruit extract pH was observed in the control treatment before the storage period. The post-storage control treatment exhibited the highest total soluble solids (TSS). The highest organic acid was obtained from the extract treated with the chitosan: essential oil ratio of 0.6-1 and from the control plants before the storage period. The post-storage control treatment had the lowest organic acid content. During the storage period, anthocyanin content was decreased significantly relative to the control treatment before the storage period. The chitosan:essential oil ratios of 3-0.3 and 3-0.6 brought about the highest antioxidant capacity. During the storage period, the application of chitosan:essential oil ratio of 2-0.6 increased phenol content compared to the control before the storage period. The highest weight loss was observed in the treatment of chitosan:essential oil ratio of 3-0.6. Overall, coating pomegranate seeds and selecting an appropriate concentration of S. bachtiarica for incorporation into the chitosan coating can contribute to preserving the shelf life, marketability, and nutritional quality of pomegranate seeds.

Nutrition of fruit trees during the growing season plays an important role in growth, fruitfulness and fruit quality. Given the increasing application of bio-stimulators as one of the most important approaches towards sustainable agriculture, some bio-stimulators were applied to elucidate their effects on vegetative characteristics and leaf mineral content of apricot trees cv. “Shekarpareh” in the spring of 2015 in Abarkuh, Yazd, Iran. The experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete blocks design with four replications on 8-years-old trees. Seven treatments of foliar applications, included control (spraying with water), Humic acid (0.1 or 0.2% v/v); Humiforte™ (0.05 or 0.1% v/v) and Aminol forte (0.3 or 0.6% v/v) that were applied twice including two weeks after full bloom and a month after the first spray. The results showed that bio-stimulators significantly affected current season’s growth (branches length and diameter), leaves macro and micronutrients contents, except for potassium (P=0.003), while there was no significant effect on chlorophyll content. The highest branch length (115 cm) and the lowest branch diameter (9.71 cm) were obtained by the application of Aminol forte 0.3% v/v. The highest leaves content of N (2.46%) and P (0.14%) were achieved by applying Humiforte 0.1%, while the highest content of leaves micronutrients were observed following the application of Humic acid at 0.2% v/v. It appears that applying Aminol forte 0.3% and Humic acid 0.2% at two weeks after full bloom and one month following the first application could promote vegetative growth and mineral content of apricot trees.

Application of humic acid as an organic acid derived from humus and other natural resources along with iron could be beneficial to overcoming, at least in part, the nutrients deficiencies in the grapes. In order to evaluate the effects of humic acid and iron on fruit yield and concentration of nutrient elements in the leaf of grape, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design in three replications was done during growing season of 2013- 2014. The treatments included combinations of humic acid (control, 1 and 2 per thousand) and ferrous sulfate (control, 1 and 2 per thousand), sprayed in two steps (i.e. before flowering and two weeks after fruit set). The results indicated that treatments significantly increased the grapes fruit yield, e.g. the maximum yield (8.27 kg per plant) was obtained when 2 per thousand of iron sulfate was applied. The above treatments significantly affected nitrogen, iron, zinc and copper content of leaves. Foliar application of ferrous sulfate increased leaf iron concentration, i.e. the highest (189.6 mg per kg tissue) iron content was observed at the presence of 2 per thousand ferrous sulfate treatment. Positive correlations were observed between the leaf iron concentration with fruit yield, cluster weight, berry diameter, leaf chlorophyll concentration and TSS of fruit. Hence, foliar application of humic acid and iron sulfate (e.g. each at a two per thousand concentrations) in vineyards might be effective in increasing quality and quantity of grapes.

This study was carried out to determine the best method and time of budding and grafting in walnut under controlled conditions in Saman, Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Province. The experiment was in completely randomized design with 13 treatments, including cleft, splice and whip-tongue grafting on February 4, chip budding on April 4, 19, May 5 and 20, and T-budding and patch budding each one on first of June, July and August in three replications (each replication, including ten seedlings). All grafted seedlings were cultivated in 10-liter plastic pots. Plants were transferred into the greenhouse at about 25 °C and relative humidity of at least 70%. Chip budding, T-budding and patch budding was performed in the greenhouse. Successful budding and grafting were determined after four and 12 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, stem length, diameter and leaf number were evaluated after 12 weeks. The results were suggestive of significant differences between the different grafting methods and times at 1% level. The highest successful grafting was obtained in T-budding (100%) and patch budding (93.3%) in August, followed by T-budding and patch budding in July (80%), and patch (73/3%) and T-budding (60%) in June. Cleft and whip-tongue indicated 46% and 40% successful grafting, respectively. In this study, splice and chip grafting were not proven successful. The highest length and diameter of scion were obtained from the patch budding in June, and the highest leaf number was obtained in whip-though grafting. Finally, the best successful grafting was obtained when grafting was conducted at August, and the highest scion length and diameter were obtained when grafting was carried out in June.

The experiment was conducted in 2012 to evaluate the effect of salinity stress on oil percent, oil yield, seed yield and some physiological charactristics on three local populations of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), at the University of Shahrekord, Iran. Experiment was carried out with three replications in a completely randomized design including five levels of salinity (1.2, 2, 2.6, 3.8 and 4.8 dS/m in soil saturation paste) as the first factor and castor populations (Shiraz, Kerman and Urumieh) as the second factor. The effect of salinity was statistically significant (α>0.01) on seed yield, oil percent and oil yield, chlorophyl a, chlorophyll b and proline, while a significant effect (α>0.05) was observed for total chlorophyl. The results also showed that different populations had a significant difference (α>0.01) with regard to all studied factors. The highest and the lowest proline content were observed for Kerman and Shiraz populations, respectively. Increasing salinity increased the leaf proline content while it decreased the chlorophyll content was decreased. At low salinity levels, Shiraz population resulted to the highest seed and oil yield. However, with increasing salinity, seed yield and oil content of Shiraz population was less than other populations. Although more research is needed in this respect, but it seems that in castor been Shiraz population for soils with a low salinity and Kerman population for more saline conditions can be recommended.