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Abstract Background Chickpea is a key pulse crop grown in the spring in dryland regions. The cold resistance potential of chickpeas allows for the development of genotypes with varying sowing dates to take advantage of autumn and winter rainfall, particularly in dryland regions. In this study, we assessed grain yield, plant height, 100-seed weight, days to maturity, and days to flowering of 17 chickpea genotypes in five autumn-sown dryland regions from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the response of selected chickpea genotypes to cold stress was examined at temperatures of -4 °C, 4 °C, and 22 °C by analyzing biochemical enzymes. Results Mixed linear model of ANOVA revealed a significant genotype × environment interaction for all traits measured, indicating varying reactions of genotypes across test environments. This study reported low estimates of broad-sense heritability for days to flowering (0.34), days to maturity (0.13), and grain yield (0.08). Plant height and seed weight exhibited the highest heritability, with genotypic selection accuracies of 0.73 and 0.92, respectively. Moreover, partial least square regression highlighted the impactful role of rainfall during all months except of October, November, and February on grain yield and its interaction with environments in autumn-planted chickpeas. Among the genotypes studied, G9, G10, and G17 emerged as superior based on stability parameters and grain yield. In particular, genotype G9 stood out as a promising genotype for dryland regions, considering both MTSI and genotype by yield*trait aproaches. The cold assay indicated that − 4 °C is crucial for distinguishing between susceptible and resistant genotypes. The results showed the important role of the enzymes CAT and GPX in contributing to the cold tolerance of genotype G9 in autumn-sown chickpeas. Conclusions Significant G×E for agro-morphological traits of chickpea shows prerequisite for multi-trial analysis. Chickpea`s direct root system cause that monthly rainfall during plant establishment has no critical role in its yield interaction with dryland environment. Considering the importance of agro-morphological traits and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield, the utilization of multiple-trait stability approches is propose. Evaluation of chickpea germplasm reaction against cold stress is necessary for autumn-sowing. Finally, autumn sowing of genotype FLIP 10–128 C in dryland conditions can led to significant crop performance.

Objective Iran is one of the few countries where the origin of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in the world. About half of the pomegranate genotypes are endangered. Despite the similarity between some genotypes in terms of appearance, there are differences between anthocyanins, phytochemicals, antioxidants, etc., of them that are very much affected by the environment (especially stress) and require DNA barcoding. For this reason, more accurate molecular studies, especially DNA identification, are necessary to aid in classification, identification of the required genotype, non-incorrect naming of genotypes, and identification of cultivars. By performing this research, it is possible to reduce the volume of genotypes and eliminate duplicate and similar genotypes in Saveh pomegranate collection to reduce their maintenance and management costs. Also used to select the best plant barcode to identify, differentiate and determine the diversity of genotypes for use in breeding programs. Materials and methods In this study, 58 genotypes in Saveh pomegranate collection were examined by ITS barcode region. After receiving the sequences, first all the sequences blast in the NCBI site for the accuracy of the desired area and after sure of the desired plant area (pomegranate), the quality of the sequences was measured with Chromas software and in addition to deleting the M13 sequence, the beginning and end sequences and poor-quality sequences were deleted. Then, for multiple alignments by clustalW method, bioinformatics analysis was performed using MEGA software. Results The results showed that the success rate of propagation in this area by PCR was 79%. Also, the success rate of sequencing in this area was 74.68%. The GC content of this area was 64.23%. The lowest genetic distance for this region (0.005) was between the genotypes of Malls Tabas with Chatroud Shirin and the Torsh Dorag Rafsanjan with Globland Bafgh and the highest genetic distance (5.314) was between the genotypes of Gol Magasi Taft with Dane Siyah Ardestan, Poost Ghermez Zanjan, Malas Paveh, Peyvndi Ashkzar and Dane Ghermez Zavareh genotypes. The results of phylogenetic tree also showed that wild genotypes of Tamin Khash, Domezeh Bagh Malek Izeh and Dorag Malas Bajestan and Gol Magasi Taft were each in separate groups and other genotypes were in other groups. Conclusions In general, Ardestan, Khash, Gol Magasi Taft, Malas Peyvandi Ashkzar, Zanjan, Paveh, Zavareh and Ravar genotypes had the highest genetic diversity and distance with other genotypes that according to other characteristics of genotypes, they can be used as parents for breeding programs. Also, considering that this region, unlike other regions, carries both paternal and maternal genes and due to the facilitation of reproduction and the success of their sequences, was identified as a suitable region to show genetic diversity between genotypes which can be used in future research.

IntroductionHamedan province, characterized by an average annual rainfall of less than 340 mm, faces significant limitations in potato production)Solanum tuberosum(, primarily due to the scarcity of irrigation water and the occurrence of drought stress during critical growth stages. In order to address these challenges, the utilization of aqueous superabsorbent materials and the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi have emerged as highly suitable approaches. These methods aim to optimize the utilization of water and soil resources (Khadem et al., 2011). Previous studies have indicated that the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in various plant species, apart from potatoes, can reduce the impact of drought stress and enhance nutrient uptake (Bolannazar et al., 2007; Subramanian et al., 2008). However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of superabsorbents and mycorrhizae, particularly under conditions of moisture stress and deficit irrigation in potato crops. Consequently, this experiment aims to investigate the effects of applying these methods under stress conditions.Materials and MethodsThe experiment was arranged in strip factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Three irrigation levels containing optimal irrigation (100, 75 and 50% of water requirement based on evapotranspiration from Pan Class A) in horizontal plots and factor 2 using Trawat200A superadsorbent (0 and 80 kg.ha-1) and four mycorrhiza and superabsorbent levels including no application of these material (control), superabsorbent, mycorrhiza as a bio-fertilizer and their combination were considered as sub plots. The Agria potato cultivar was selected. Superabsorbent material was applied adjacent to the tubers at planting time. Mycorrhizal inoculum containing the active propagules (CFU 120 /g) was inoculated to the tubers. The concentration of nutrients in the shoot and in the tubers were determined by using Kjeldahl apparatus for Nitrogen (Waling et al., 1989), spectrophotometer for phosphorus (Jones, 2001), flame photometry for Potassium and atomic absorption spectroscopy for Iron, Zinc, and Manganese (Ryan et al., 2001). the produced tubers were divided, weighed and counted based on their size in three groups (small, medium and larg). Water use efficiency was determined as the amount of dry matter produced per cubic meter of water consumption in different treatments.Results and DiscussionThe results of combined analysis of variance showed that the main effects of irrigation rate, application of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent on tuber yield and percentage of dry matter, nutrient uptake in stem, leaf and tuber were significant. Comparison of means showed that with the application of low irrigation and increasing the intensity of water deficiency (reducing the amount of irrigation water), total yield decreased, but this decrease was significantly less in conditions of inoculation with mycorrhiza and the use of superabsorbent polymer. Mycorrhiza and superabsorbent increased the absorption of nutrients, especially under severe water deficiency. In this study, there was a significant difference in the uptake of phosphorus and other low-consumption and high-consumption nutrients at normal irrigation levels and stress in mycorrhizal plants, so that their uptake increased in proportion to the increase in stress intensity and in mycorrhizal inoculation conditions. It seems that by creating stress conditions, the ability and efficiency of mycorrhiza in nutrient uptake is increased and thus in the conditions of lack of moisture with the coexistence mechanism in the relationship of the plant more effectively helps the survival and durability of the plant. Mycorrhizal fungi can increase the uptake of phosphorus from the soil by increasing the relative water content and ultimately play an effective role in increasing plant growth (Krishna et al., 2005). In this study, it was found that the use of superabsorbent in potatoes helps to increase the absorption of nutrients. The reason for this can be increasing the storage capacity of water and nutrients for a long time in the soil, reducing nutrient leaching, rapid and optimal root growth with better nutrient storage and aeration of the soil.ConclusionIn this study, it was found that the application of superabsorbent and mycorrhiza in potato helps to increase nutrient uptake as well as tuber yield. The positive effects of combined application of mycorrhiza and superabsorbent on nutrient uptake and yield were more evident especially in conditions of severe water deficiency.AcknowledgementsWe are grateful for the efforts of Dr. Bakhtiari and Mr. Abdolreza Mordai in coordinating and equipping irrigation equipment and land preparation.