Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils from Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth

The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the aerial parts of Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth. was studied. The effect of different parameters such as pressure, temperature, modifier identity, and modifier volume on the SFE of the plant was investigated. The extracts were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and compared with the essential oil obtained from P. atriplicifolia Benth by steam distillation. The supercritical extracts and the steam-distilled products had very different compositions. The main constituents of the oil obtained by steam distillation were 1,8-cineole, limonene, camphor, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, camphene, and alpha-humulene. On the other hand, the major components of SFE extracts were 1,8-cineole, limonene, camphor, beta-caryophyllene, gamma-cadinene, alpha-pinene, and alpha-terpinyl acetate. The results showed that increasing the temperature from 35 to 65 degrees C (at a constant pressure of 100 atm) drastically reduced the number of extracted components. Also, the number of extracted constituents and the percent of main analytes increased when lower pressures were used. Using different modifiers (e.g., methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane) for the extraction of the plant at low pressure (100 atm) and temperature (35 degrees C) showed that hexane was more selective than the other modifiers.     

Biosystematics relationships among Marrubium L. (Lamiaceae) species in Iran

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Marrubium L., is a problematic genus of Lamiaceae family with approximately 40 taxa that some of its species grow in Iran. In the current study, we studied...     

Effect of Silver Particle size on color and Antibacterial properties of silk and cotton Fabrics

In this study silver nanoparticles with different particle sizes and hence colors were synthesized on silk and cotton fabrics through reduction of silver nitrate. Particle sizes of the silver colloids were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The structure and properties of the treated fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy. Various characteristics of the treated fabrics including antibacterial activities against a Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and a Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, color effect, wash and light fastness, water absorption, fabric rigidity, and UV blocking properties were also assessed. The results indicated that the treated fabrics displayed different colors in the presence of silver nanoparticles with different particle sizes and exhibited good and durable fastness properties. Also, the size of the silver particles had a tangible effect on antibacterial activity of treated fabrics and its antibacterial performance was improved by decreasing the size of particles. Moreover, this process imparted significantly UV blocking activity to fabric samples.     

Effect of Zinc × Boron Interaction on Plant Growth and Tissue Nutrient Concentration of Corn

ABSTRACT

A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse on a calcareous soil (fine, mixed, mesic, Fluventic Haploxerepts) to study the interaction of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on the growth and nutrient concentration of corn (Zea mays L.). Treatments consisted of a factorial arrangement of seven levels of B (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg kg^{? 1}as boric acid), two sources of Zn [zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O) and zinc oxide (ZnO)], and three levels of Zn (0, 5, and 10 mg kg^{? 1}) in a completely randomized design with three replications. Plants were grown for 70 d in 1.6 L plastic containers. Applied Zn significantly increased plant height and dry matter yield (DMY) of corn. Source of Zn did not significantly affect growth or nutrient concentration. High levels of B decreased plant height and DMY. There was a significant B × Zn interaction on plant growth and tissue nutrient concentration which were rate dependent. In general, the effect of B × Zn interaction was antagonistic on nutrient concentration and synergistic on growth. It is recommended that the plants be supplied with adequate Zn when corn is grown in high B soils, especially when availability of Zn is low.     

EFFECT OF ARSENIC ON GERMINATION,PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND GROWTH PARAMETERS OF TWO WINTER WHEAT VARIETIES IN IRAN

□ Effects of different arsenic (As) concentration (0–30 mg L^?1) on seed germination, root tolerance index, relative shoot height, root and shoot biomass, photosynthetic pigments and arsenic accumulation in two wheat varieties were investigated. Low concentrations of arsenic (0–2.5 mg L^?1) stimulated germination percentage, shoot and root elongation, plant biomass as well as chlorophyll content as compared with control, however, these factors all decreased gradually at high concentrations of arsenic (5–30 mg L^?1). ‘Zarin’ variety had a significantly higher tolerance to arsenic than ‘Sardari.’ Arsenic accumulation by plants root and shoot increased with the increasing arsenic concentrations in medium, which ‘Zarin’ had a higher ability to absorb and translocate arsenic to the shoots. Root accumulated more arsenic than shoot. The similar trend of chlorophyll content and wheat growth under different arsenic concentration suggesting that arsenic toxicity affects the photosynthesis which ultimately results in the reduction of wheat growth and yield.     

EFFECT OF HUMIC ACID APPLICATION ON CADMIUM ACCUMULATION BY LETTUCE LEAVES

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) forms and deficient and toxic rates of boron (B) on the growth, NO₃ accumulation, membrane permeability, mineral nutrition, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of bunch onion (Allium cepa L. var. Radar) plants. Therefore, 20% of NO₃ in reference nutrient solution was replaced by NH₄, urea, or mixed amino acids (AA). To each of these solutions 3, 30, or 300 mmol m^?3 B was added. Fresh and dry weights were the same in the reference and mixed AA treatments, but NH₄ and urea decreased these growth parameters as compared to the reference. Mixed AA decreased the NO₃-N content while urea increased it, and NH₄ treatment yielded similar NO₃-N content as compared to the reference. The nitrogen content of plants was increased by NO₃ replacement with either NH₄ and, urea or mixed AA. At the 300 mmol m^?3 B rate, B content of plants was decreased by NH₄ and urea, but increased by the mixed AA treatment. Membrane permeability was increased by NH₄?replacement of NO₃. Nitrogen use efficiency was found the highest in the reference treatment. Nitrogen and NO₃-N contents were increased by the 300 mmol m^?3 B rate. Increasing B in nutrient solution increased the B contents of plants. Mixed AA treatment decreased the phosphorus (P) content of plants. Potassium (K) and chloride (Cl) contents of plants were decreased in the NH₄ treatment where B was applied at the 3 mmol m^?3 rate. These results suggest that bunch onion growers may reduce NO₃ content in onion tops by partially replacing NO₃ with amino acids without reducing yield.     

Phenotypic diversity analysis of grain yield and yellow pigment content in germplasm collected from Iranian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landraces

This study was undertaken to compare patterns of agronomic characters and yellow pigment content diversity between Iranian durum landraces and modern varieties. In four field experiments, a collection of 127 accessions of landraces and 23 modern cultivars tetraploid wheat representing Iranian and global genetic diversity were tested under optimum and rain-fed conditions. Across the environments, the yellow pigment concentrations ranged from 1.85 mg kg^?1 to 8.95 mg kg^?1 in the field-grown samples. Multivariate analysis detected five groups, four including landraces and one comprising modern cultivars. As a group, modern cultivars were the most productive and showed high mean values for harvest index, grains per spike and yellow pigment, but they had the lowest plant height. Landraces had the highest mean number of spikes per m² and 1000-kernel weight, but were characterized by low plant height and yellow pigment content. Clustering analysis also showed that, based on yield and yellow pigment content, the accessions in different groups were of different origins, suggesting that there was no clear relationship between accessions and geographical diversity. According to our results, Iranian landraces can be particularly useful as germplasm in breeding programmes to improve spikes per m² and 1000-kernel weights.     

Long-term land-use change effects on phosphorus fractionation in Zrêbar Lake margin soils

The aim of this study was to survey long-term changes in phosphorus (P) fractions in soils in different land uses. Sequential extraction had been used to determine soil P fractionation on the basis of land-use change, i.e. native forest to vineyard and wetland to both alfalfa and wheat at the end of 30 and 20 years, respectively. The highest values of labile-P (L-P) fractions in surface soil layers were observed in the cultivated land. The calcium-bound P was the most affected fraction by land-use change with the lowest amount in the vineyard and the highest amount in the alfalfa land. Conversion of forest to vineyards causes P in the soils to be more vulnerable to transmission; thus, the least amount of total P (T-P) in vineyard may be attributed to the removal of sediment and sediment bond P from runoff in response to land-use changes. Average L-P in alfalfa land was two times more than that in vineyard. Results showed that 44.5% of T-P in native land was stored in surface layer; besides, the portion of the arable surface horizon in T-P sequestration was 33%.