Journal of Crop Production and Processing

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In order to investigate the effect of different ratios of ammonium: nitrate on the photosynthesis and fatty acid composition in canola (Brassica napus L.) under different levels of salinity, an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on complete randomize design at Agricultural Research Center in East Azerbaijan in 2010. The first factor was different ratios of nitrogen sources to ammonium: nitrate at four levels as 0: 100, 25: 75, 50:50 and 75: 25 and the second factor was two levels of salinity as 0 and 200 mM NaCl. Results showed that the highest fresh and dry weights, leaf area and relative water content (RWC), photosynthesis rate and potassium concentration in the leaves were obtained at ammonium: nitrate (50: 50) in non-saline condition. With increasing salinity, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, relative water content (RWC), photosynthesis and leaf potassium were significantly reduced. It seems that with increasing salinity the application of nitrogen (nitrate to ammonium) ratio of 50/50 caused less injure in crop. In treatments using high amounts of ammonium by canola, higher levels of fatty acids was obtained than feeding conditions with nitrate. The highest ratio of fatty acids was measured in saline conditions when the application of nitrate :ammonium was as 25:75.

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Potassium (K) has a special place in improving the quality of agricultural products. To evaluate the effect of K concentration in nutrient solution on lycopene content, vitamin C and qualitative characteristics of cherry tomato in NaCl salinity conditions, an experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with five treatments and three replications at university of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran, in 2010. Treatments consisted of four concentrations of K (0.2, 2, 7 and 14 mM) in nutrient solution with 60 mM NaCl concentration. A nutrient solution treatment without salinity was considered as control. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, in a hydroponic system. The results indicated that increasing of K concentration increased lycopene content in fruit. Lycopene content in control treatment showed significant difference (P<0.01) in comparison with salinity treatments. With increasing the K concentration (except at 14 mM concentration), vitamin C content was increased, but indicated no statistically significant difference. Vitamin C content in saline conditions was more than control treatment, but showed no significant difference. Adding potassium concentration in nutrient solution improved yield and enhanced quality parameters such as percentage of dry matter, soluble solids and electrical conductivity of fruit extract. Since in saline conditions, the qualitative characteristics of tomato at 7 mM concentration were in the best situation, therefore using this concentration is recommended.

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This experiment was conducted to study the effects of application of partial root zone drying technique on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. Selva). The experiment was arranged as randomized complete blocks design with five treatments and four replications. One week after planting the seedlings, different irrigation regimes including FC: FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at field capacity), FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in one side of the roots at field capacity and in the other side at half field capacity), FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at field capacity and the other side is dry), ½ FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at half field capacity and the other side is dry) and 1/2 FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at half field capacity) were applied by emitters (and controlled by moisture sensors). Traits such as fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, leaf number of leaves, chlorophyll index, leaf area index, leaf leakage of electrolytes, proline, and soluble solids were measured. Results showed that the highest fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, number of leaves, chlorophyll index and leaf area index were measured in FC: FC and FC: 1/2 FC treatments. Maximum electrolyte leakage, proline and soluble solids were in 1/2 FC: Dry treatment. Plants under this technique showed resistance mechanisms, against drought stress, such as proline production and reduction of number and surface of leaves.

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In order to study the effect of CaCl2 treatment on postharvest quality and storage behavior of peach fruit cv. Anjiri Maliki, the fruits were dipped in CaCl2 solution, at concentration of 0 as control and 60mM, in different temperatures (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64°C) for 5 minutes. The trial was carried out as a factorial experiment if frame of complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The fruits were stored at 2-3°C and 85-90% R.H for finally 28 days, and then the fruit parameters were measured weekly. Traits such as titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C, weight loss, tissue firmness and calcium concentration were determined. Results showed that in total storage period (four measurements times), treatment with CaCl2, at temperature of 64°C was the best treatment according to maintaining flesh firmness, maintaining TSS, preventing the degradation of ascorbic acid, reducing the TA changes, modulation of weight loss and increasing the amount of calcium content in fruits. Also thermal treatments at temperatures of 32 and 64°C, alone end without CaCl2, had significant effects on maintaining fruit firmness, TA and acid ascorbic and caused to modulation in weight loss. On the other hand the application of calcium chloride at temperatures of 4 and 32°C had significant effect on quality parameters.

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Molecular mapping and construction of linkage maps in plants genome play important role in marker assisted selection and breeding programs of target traits. Eleven combinations of PstI and MseI primers were used to assign AFLP markers to the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) linkage groups in 107 doubled haploid (DH) lines. The results of AFLP analysis indicated that amplified fragments (66 polymorphic bands) length of the primer combinations varied between 100 and 1000 base pairs (bp). Out of the 66 AFLP markers, 9.0% showed segregation distortion in the DH population that discarded from the linkage analysis. Linkage analysis for AFLP markers showed that after eliminating deviated markers from 1:1 segregation ratio, number of assigned markers to B and A genomes were respectively 21 (43%) and 20 (41 %), and a number of 6 markers were assigned to D (12%) linkage groups. A number of 12 markers were not assigned to any of wheat linkage groups. Number of assigned markers to the wheat homeologous chromosomes of 1 to 7 were 6 (12.5%), 7 (14.5%), 4 (8.7%), 5 (10.4%), 9 (18.7%) and 12 (25%), respectively. The highest number of AFLP markers were assigned to chromosomes 7A (7 markers) and 1B (5 markers). Among the mapped AFLP markers, P06m19-7-4, P01m19-8-6, P04m18-9-5, P03m22-9-6, P08m22-11-4, P03m22-8-3, P04m22-9-4, P01m24-8-2, P01m24-8-4 were located on those regions of A, B and D linkage groups that saturated the low dense intervals in previously available map and therefore, showed a better coverage on wheat genome compared with other AFLP markers.

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Aegilops cylindrica species (CCDD, 2n = 4x = 28) is one of the wild relatives of wheat and hence known as a valuable source of genes related to biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. In this study genetic variation of 66 Aegilops cylindrica genotypes collected from west and northwestern of Iran was evaluated using quantitative and qualitative morphological traits. The results indicated that glumelle (lemma) length and glume color traits had the highest variation as the quantitative and qualitative traits, respectively. The principal components analysis (PCA) indicated 6 components that first component justified %30.3 total variation. Flag leaf color and fluffiness had the highest contribution in this component and thus the first component named as the flag leaf component. The cluster analysis divided the studied genotypes into three groups.  Genotypes originating from west of Iran were included in the first group and genotypes from northwestern Iran were clustered into the second and third groups. It could be concluded that the high genetic variation among genotypes of Ae. cylindrica revealed in this study can be utilized to improve wheat particularly for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

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Scientific data on the hulled wheats is scarce. Therefore, changes in some physiological attributes including carotenoids concentration, antioxidant enzymes activity, malondialdehyde content (MDA), cell membrane stability index (MSI) and grain yield in a hulled tetraploid wheat (i.e. "Joneghan") and  a durum wheat cultivar (i.e. "Yavaroos") in response to salinity and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were studied using a split-factorial based on randomized complete block design at Research Farm, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran in 2013. Three levels of irrigation water salinity (control, 100 and 200 mM of NaCl) were chosen as main plots and the two tetraploid wheat genotypes and three PGPR strains (550, 57 and UW3) and bacteria-free control were considered as subplots. Salinity led to significant decreases in grain yield/m² (nearly 30%), activity of the antioxidative enzymes of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) and carotenoids concentration. Salinity led to a decrease in MSI and an increase in MDA content, indicating salt-induced damages to the cells. Bacterial strains left different effects on the above-mentioned traits. Strain 550 led to 44% increase in grain yield of the two genotypes at the absence of salt, though strain UW3 led to 24% increase in grain yield of the genotypes, when grown at the presence of 200 mM of NaCl. Though, the bacterial strains led to increase in MSI of the salt-treated plants. From the data obtained in the present field study we can conclude that the PGPR efficacy in the mitigating salt stress in tetraploid wheat is genotype-, salt level- and strain-specific. The "Joneghan" hulled tetraploid wheat was out-performed by the "Yavaroos" durum wheat, though its yield penalty due to saline water did not appear to differ from that of the latter genotype.

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Optimizing regeneration of cotton plant in two variety (Sahel and Varamin) via shoot apex was done in order to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In this reaserch shoot apexes of two varieties were isolated from four or five day seedling and were placed on a special medium of shooting (modified MS without hormon).In order to select the best rooting media, The Statistical Analysis explants that produce shoot and leaves in a CRBD with 4 replicates and 4 rooting treatments: 1) modified MS without hormon, 2) ½ MS with 0.1 mg/lit IBA, 3) ½ MS with 0.1 mg/lit NAA, 4) ½ MS with 0.1 mg/lit IAA. The statistical analysis indicated that the best for both varieties, was medium with 0.1 mg/lit IBA and rooting percentage of Varamin is better than sahel in all of media.

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The significance of haploid plants as genetic and plant breeding tools has been recognized for a long time. Haploid production techniques including anther culture, isolated microspore culture and intergeneric hybridization between wheat × Hordeum bulbosum and wheat × maize have been used to produce homozygous lines which accelerate breeding programs. In this study, wheat × maize hybridization and anther culture techniques were used for haploid production in six wheat genotypes. The results showed that 70.7% of regenerated plants through anther culture were albino plants and only 29.2 % were green, while the plants produced through wheat × maize method were all green. Ploidy variation was not observed in plants regenerated through wheat × maize hybridization. It was concluded that wheat × maize crosses would be an appropriate and practical method for haploid production in different wheat genotypes, which in comparison with the anther culture method has a higher efficiency.

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Foxglove (Digitalis sp.), as an ornamental and medicinal plant, is used for treatment of heart congestive disorders. Use of plant cell and tissue culture can be effective in large scale micropropagation and stable production of medicinal compounds. In this study direct and indirect regeneration methods in two species of this genus (D. purpurea and D. lanata) were investigated in response to different concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. In indirect method (regeneration through callus), regeneration occurred only in D. lanata in response to 3mg L^-1 BAP, and no regeneration observed in callus of D. purpurea. Use of 13 different combinations of plant growth regulators for direct regeneration from node explants showed that the best regeneration in both species occurred in MS medium supplemented by BAP. Number of shoots produced in direct method in D. purpurea was more than that of D. lanata.  The response of explants of D. lanata to different treatments was faster. The results showed that phenol production in node culture of both species was much less than leaf culture in indirect regeneration. Rooting was rapidly achieved even in mediums without auxins and 1 mg L^-1 Zeatin. Rooted plantlets transported into the soil and acclimated in greenhouse. Taking to the account of low phenol production and high number of shoots in direct regeneration, this method could be suggested for the micropropagation of foxglove.
 

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Formation of the two- and six-rowed types in barley is predominantly controlled by alleles at a single locus (vrs1) which is located in long arm of chromosome 2H. This gene is a key character on the study of barley domestication and yield. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) of barley were produced from crosses between Kanto Nakate Gold (tow-rowed) and Azumamugi (six-rowed). The selected lines were used for screening of AFLP polymorphic bands which are linked to vrs1 locus. After screening of a total of 1792 primer combination, five polymorphic bands were identified. A construction of high resolution map around the vrs1 locus was made using recombinant inbred lines. These markers can be used for a map-based cloning of the genes at the vrs1 locus.

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To determine the water application efficiency in furrow irrigation more accurately, consideration of seasonal and spatial variation of infiltration properties are needed. In addition, the effectiveness of different farm management on infiltration are significant. The main objective of this research was to simulate the seasonal variation (SV) of infiltration coefficients in Kostiakov-Louise equation (KLE) in a cracking soil under two traditional farm managements. Farm studies carried out in a clay-loam soil in Karaj. The two management treatments were soil without wheat residual and soil with wheat residual by a 5 ton/ha rate. There were 22 furrows with 0.75 m width in the farm. KLE infiltration coefficients were measured using inflow-outflow and two point’s methods in six furrows. The results of this study indicated that the SV of a and k coefficients were not significant, but variation of f0 was significant which was simulated with a logarithmic model. The effectiveness of SV on cumulative infiltration (Z) was also evaluated and indicated to be significant that were simulated with a logarithmic model too. Finally, dimensionless parameter such as Z* were developed to predicate Z parameter in different irrigation time, irrigation events and different residual management. Base on the result, although residue management causes a significant difference between value of f0 and Z in two treatments, but it doesn’t effect on trend of variation during the season. It means that the trend of variation is independent of residue in soil. It is probably done because of change in some of soil physical properties such as soil bulk density and aggregate stability.

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Identification of grass species seems difficult due to the morphological similarities. However, selecting desirable parental genotypes of the crosses based on the genetic distances is considered as the most critical step in a breeding program. The aim of this study was to characterize grass species using AFLP techniques. Five species with five cultivars from each were selected and studied using AFLP reactions performed by PstI and MseI restriction enzymes. The obtained data was analyzed using NT SYS-pc Ver. 2.02 software and Jaccard’s method. Ten primer combinations amplified 1170 bands, all of which were polymorphic between cultivars and species. The maximum band (168) and the minimum number of band (81) were produced by P-AAG & M-CAG and P-ACT & M-CGC, respectively. The results also distinguished 5 species in 40% of genetic distances. Some of the markers were special to some special species that can be used in the identification of that species. Additionally, the results showed that AFLP techniques robust and efficient tools for the identification of genetic relationships of different genotypes within species. High levels of bands and polymorphism make AFLP one of the most powerful markers in the determination and classification of species and different cultivars of grass.

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  In this study, factor analysis was conducted to determine the factors which contributed to the variation of quantitative traits and path analysis was performed to find the direct and indirect effects of yield components on grain yield in bread wheat. A doubled haploid population of 157 lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was evaluated for agronomic and morphological traits, using a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2003 and 2004. The results of factor analysis based on maximum likelihood indicated five factors explaining 80.4% and 73.9% of total variation in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The first factor in 2003 had 30.5% contribution to the total variation, strongly influenced by the traits of pollination date, heading date, flag leaf length and days to maturity. This factor also indicated the negative relationship among the yield components and the importance of relationship between grain yield and some morphological traits. The first factor in 2004 was more affected by grain weight/spike, grains/spike and 1000-grain weight, thus it was named as grain yield factor. The second and third factors in 2003 were considered as plant height and grain yield and in 2004 as maturity and plant height, respectively. The results of path analysis showed that grains/spike had the most direct and positive effects on grain yield in 2003 (1.33) and 2004 (0.87). Because of the negative and high indirect effects of grains/spike via fertile spikes/m² and 1000-grains weight on grain yield, the correlation coefficient between grain yield and grains/spike was very low. There was not much difference between the phenotypic and genetic direct effects of spike/m² on grain yield, indicating that their relationship was less affected by environmental conditions. In general, the results showed that grains/spike and spikes/m² can be more efficient compared to 1000- grains weight for increasing grain yield and can be used as selection indices in breeding programs. Also, according to the results of factor analysis, selection based on the fourth factor including biological yield, spike/m² and grain yield as selection index can be effective to improve grain yield in breeding programs.

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Genetic maps with high genome coverage are becoming increasingly useful in both basic and applied genetic researches. In the last decades, the advent of DNA markers has brought about a magnificent revolution in the production of genetic map, especially in wheat. In the present study, AFLP markers were used to saturate linkage map of 107 doubled haploid individuals produced through Fukuho _Komugi × Oligo – Culm crosses received from Japan International Research Center of Agricultural Science (JIRCAS). The framework of genetic map was used as base map for next analysis. AFLP analysis was performed with MseI / PstI as digestive enzymes. The average percentage of polymorphism with AFLP markers was around 16.6%. Data analysis was performed by computer program known as Mapmaker / EXP, Ver. 3.3. In this program, the maximum distance criterion was 50 cM and the minimum LOD equated 3. The drawing of chromosome schema for the linkage groups was performed by Draw map, Ver 1.1. In this analysis, 115 AFLP markers were divided into 10 groups in addition, some of the markers remained unlinked. The supplementary data analysis along with specific SSR markers identified the chromosome loci of the markers. Ultimately, 71.1% of the markers were assigned to genome A, 16.5% to genome B and only 3% to genome D. The AFLP markers filled 11 gaps in 7 chromosomes (2A, 3A, 7A, 2B, 3B, 5B and 7B). The low coverage of genome D was due to the limited polymorphism and its conservation in different populations. Among the chromosomes, maximum number of markers (60) was assigned to the chromosome 7A. The distribution of the markers on this chromosome was not uniform. Such a distribution was related to the grouping AFLP markers within heterochromatin region, particularly around the centromere.

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Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a clonally propagated major fruit crop. In grapevine, identification of genotypes with amplographical features is often based on mature plant characteristics that may be affected by environmental conditions. This approach lacks objectivity and reliability. Recently, molecular markers have proved to be supplementary techniques to analyze genetic diversity and examine genetic relationships existing between cultivars in a range of horticultural crops. In this study, twenty genotypes from grapevine (V.vinifera species) grown in Isfahan province were characterized by RAPD technique to understand the extent of diversity and relatedness. Fifty random primers were used for the RAPD study. Of those, twenty four informative primers which generated reproducible polymorphic bands were used for grouping the genotypes. PCR products of the genotypes’genome revealed a total of 315 bands, out of which 282 were found to be polymorphic. Average number of 13 bands was obtained per primer and the amplification produced ranged in size from 300 bp to 3000 bp. The dendrogram constructed using UPGMA cluster analysis differentiated the genotypes into two major clusters, nineteen in one group and Madar-o-Bache genotype has been placed in a separate one, indicating its high genetic diversity compared to the rest of the genotypes. Intra-clustering within cluster A grouped the genotypes in four sub-clusters as expected from their genetic background. The results of the study revealed that the RAPD technique is a relevant technique to determine genetic diversity, genomic analysis and to examine genetic relationship in grapevines.