Vermicompost as an alternative substrate to peat moss for strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) in soilles culture.

BACKGROUND: Consecutive droughts and quantitative and qualitative reduction of surface and underground water resources have caused an increase in greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation for most garden crops, including strawberries, in Iran. On the other hand, most of the inputs of greenhouse crops in Iran are imported. To possibility of replacing vermicompost with peat moss under hydroponic cultivation, an experiment was done in a split plot based on randomized complete blocks design in three replications in Isfahan (Iran) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in 2019. The main treatment was substrate at four levels included different levels of vermicompost (30 and 50%) and peat moss (30 and 50%) in combination with perlite and sub-treatment were Selva and Camarosa cultivars. RESULTS: The results showed that Camarosa cultivar and Selva cultivar in (perlite/ peat moss 50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite / vermicompost 70:30) had maximum yield. Leaf number and chlorophyll index were maximum in Camarosa cultivar in peat moss substrates. Strawberry cultivars had the highest root fresh weight, the content of vitamin C and total soluble solids (TSS) in substrates containing vermicompost. Camarosa cultivar in (perlite / peat moss50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite /vermicompost 50:50) had maximum root dry weight. Also, the highest number of inflorescences was related to substrates containing peat moss and (perlite /vermicompost 70:30). Maximum amount of fresh and dry weight of shoots were observed in (perlite/ peat moss70:30). Selva cultivar had more inflorescences (16.5%) than Camarosa cultivar and Camarosa cultivar produced more fresh and dry weight of shoots (16.5%, 23.01%) than Selva cultivar. CONCLUSION: Expriment results highlighted the importance of considering both main and sub-treatments in agricultural research, as they interacted to influence various growth and yield parameters. 50% vermicompost treatment combined with perlite had a positive impact on plant growth and in quality index such as vitamin C content and TSS was highest. while the choice of cultivar affected different aspects of plant development. Selva cultivar was known to be more tolerant to salinity caused by vermicompost. Vermicompost is local and more economical, also salt resistant cultivars are recommended in a controlled (30%) amount of vermicompost.

Evaluation of foliar application of selenium and flowering stages on selected properties of Iranian Borage as a medicinal plant.

Many of the active constituents of drug or medicines were originally derived from medicinal plants. Iranian Borage are still being used in regular basis. Selenium (Se) is an essential mineral nutrient for animal and human growth. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of (2, 4, 8 and 16 mg L-1) of as sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) and as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on some important properties of Iranian Borage in factorial based on Randomized Complete Block Design via four steps: 2 true leaves stage, ten leaves, 2 weeks and 1 week before flowering. The traits were evaluated during flowering period. Results showed that the highest shoot fresh and dry weight and shoot length, total alkaloid, essential oil percentage were obtained by 4 mg L-1 sodium selenate at the end of flowering. In addition, 4 mg L-1 sodium selenate concentration significantly improved flower yield (diameter, number, weight). The plants were treated with 8 mg L-1 sodium selenate, the higher total phenols and flavonoids, antioxidant activity, soluble sugars, root and fresh weight was seen at end of flowering. When the plants were sprayed with 4 mg L-1 sodium selenite higher total chlorophyll was observed at full of flowering. 16 mg L-1 sodium selenite released the maximum Se acclimation in the petals. 20 composites were discovered containing ɑ-Pinene (23.61%) with sodium selenate in 4 mg L-1. Generally, selenium sources significantly improved morpho-physiological and phytochemical.

Antioxidant potential and essential oil properties of Hypericum perforatum L. assessed by application of selenite and nano-selenium.

It is necessary to develop a simple way to achieve food quality quantitatively. Nanotechnology is a key advanced technology enabling contribution, development, and sustainable impact on food, medicine, and agriculture. In terms of medicinal and therapeutic properties, Hypericum perforatum is an important species. For this study, a randomized complete block design with three replications was used in each experimental unit. The foliar application of selenite and nano-selenium (6, 8, 10, and 12 mg/l), control (distilled water), at the rosette stage and harvesting at 50% flowering stage has been applied as an alleviation strategy subjected to producing essential oils and antioxidant activity. Experimental results revealed that the selenite and nano selenium fertilizers had a significant effect on traits such as total weight of biomass, essential oil percentage, the content of hypericin and hyperforin, the selenium accumulation in the plant, relative leaf water content, chlorophylls, phenolic content, proline, catalase, peroxidase, malondialdehyde, and DPPH. The highest essential oil content was obtained from the control treatment when the accumulation of selenium was achieved with 12 mg/l nano-selenium. The maximum rate of hypericin was seen in the foliar application of 8 mg/l selenite whereas the maximum hyperforin was gained at 10 mg/l selenium. Conceding that the goal is to produce high hypericin/ hyperforin, and also the accumulation of selenium in the plant, treatments of 6 and 8 mg/l of selenite and nano-selenium could be applied. Consequently, an easy detection technique proposed herein can be successfully used in different ranges, including biology, medicine, and the food industry.

Evaluation of qualitative traits in modified Iranian Red Rey onion and comparison genetic resistance with primary mass selection and Red Azar-shahr cv to Fusarium oxysporum using laboratory and molecular markers.

BACKGROUND: The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) is grown on all continents except Antarctica, and is prized by essentially all of the world's cultures for its flavor and health-enhancing attributes. Onion breeders focus primarily on bulb characteristics such as color, shape, soluble-solids content, pungency and flavor, storage ability, and health-enhancing attributes, as well as plant characters such as resistances to diseases. The use of breeding approaches, offers great promise for population improvement and hybrid development addressing changes in consumer preference and production environments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the storage and qualitative feature of modified Red Rey Iranian Onion. METHOD: Firstly, the modified population was obtained by the selection of superior bulbs, cultivation, its self-pollination and consequently the identification of the best families and implement open pollination between them. In next level, the Red Rey Iranian modified with basic population and Red Azar-shahr cultivar (comparative) was crossed. RESULTS: Our results showed that the selection procedure has leading to improvement in variety of traits in population. Also, the modified Red Rey is significantly superior to the base mass in qualitative traits such as: bulb stiffness, bulb dry matter, TSS, total sugar and glucose; So that the percentage of dry bulb content increased from 10.4% in the basal mass to 11.1% in the modified Red Rey; while spouring and rotting, minerals, and dry matter, vitamin C and fructose-reducing sugar was not affected by genotype. In the second step, resistances to Fusarium wilt disease (laboratory and molecular markers) were evaluated. Based on the results of phenotypic evaluation, the modified Red Rey had the lowest rate and level of infection and the highest score. According to the results of genotypic evaluation, there is a very high genetic affinity between resistant and susceptible cultivars.