Zinc fractions in soil and uptake by wheat as affected by different preceding crops

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in alkaline and calcareous soils. Limited information is available on the effect of preceding crops on the distribution of Zn in soil solid phase. This field study was conducted to investigate the changes in Zn chemical forms in soil solid phase as affected by four preceding crops [Sunflower (Heilianthus annuus L. cv. Allstar), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. cv. Speed Feed), Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Koseh-e-Isfahan)] in a calcareous soil. A control treatment with no preceding crop (fallow) was also used. Our results showed that the preceding crops increased Zn concentration in exchangeable fraction (EXCH-Zn), the organically bound zinc form (ORG-Zn) and zinc bound to iron and manganese oxides (FeMnOX-Zn) while decreased carbonates bound-zinc (CAR-Zn) and residual zinc forms (RES-Zn). However, the changes in Zn fractions were dependent on the preceding crop type. The EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn pools can be considered labile pools that play significant roles in supplying Zn for plants. Among the preceding crops used in this experiment, clover (Clo) had the highest effect on transforming CAR-Zn form to EXCH-Zn and ORG-Zn labile forms and thus resulted in the highest Zn accumulation in tissues of the target wheat (Triticumaestivum L. cv. Back Cross). Although the changes in chemical forms of Zn in the soil solid phase are complex and dependent on various factors, our findings showed that the preceding crops significantly increased the concentration of Zn in exchangeable and organic matter pools and in turn resulted in higher uptake of Zn by the target wheat.     

GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF TUBEROSE AS AFFECTED BY ADDING NATURAL ZEOLITE TO THE CULTURE MEDIUM

This research was conducted to investigate the effect of natural zeolite on vegetative growth and flower characteristics of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.). The experiment was performed as a completely randomized design with seven treatments (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g zeolite/kg soil mixture along with control) and four replicates. Results indicate that zeolite increased the height of flowering stem, diameter of flower, leaf area and chlorophyll content, but decreased the diameter of flowering stem, dry weight of shoots, and roots and bulblets. Overall, zeolite added to the soil mixture had beneficial effects on only some of the parameters of tuberose growth and development.     

The Effect of Irrigation Management and Nitrogen Fertilizer On Grain Yield and Water-use Efficiency of Rice Cultivars in Northern Iran

Gesunde Pflanzen - Alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWDI) is a water-conserving strategy in rice fields. An experiment, conducted as a split-split plot design and based on...     

Crop breeding for salt tolerance in the era of molecular markers and marker‐assisted selection

Crop salt tolerance (ST) is a complex trait affected by numerous genetic and non‐genetic factors, and its improvement via conventional breeding has been slow. Recent advancements in biotechnology have led to the development of more efficient selection tools to substitute phenotype‐based selection systems. Molecular markers associated with genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting important traits are identified, which could be used as indirect selection criteria to improve breeding efficiency via marker‐assisted selection (MAS). While the use of MAS for manipulating simple traits has been streamlined in many plant breeding programmes, MAS for improving complex traits seems to be at infancy stage. Numerous QTLs have been reported for ST in different crop species; however, few commercial cultivars or breeding lines with improved ST have been developed via MAS. We review genes and QTLs identified with positive effects on ST in different plant species and discuss the prospects for developing crop ST via MAS. With the current advances in marker technology and a better handling of genotype by environment interaction effects, the utility of MAS for breeding for ST will gain momentum.     

Biomass partitioning during the life cycle of saffron (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crocus sativus</Emphasis> L.) using regression models

In this study saffron biomass partitioning was investigated in the research station of the Saffron Research Group, University of Birjand, Iran during 2009 - 2010. Plant sampling was done 25 times during the crop growth cycle. In each sampling date, the amounts of corm dry weight, root dry weight, root length, leaf dry weight, leaf area, bud number, bud dry weight (nodes on the surface of the corm), and flower weight were measured. Finally, different regression models were tested for predicting biomass partitioning in saffron. The cubic polynomial model was found to be the best for predicting biomass changes in most saffron organs (R ² = ~74%). Total corm dry weight showed a decreasing trend up to the 120^th day of plant growth and then increased until the end of the life cycle (mid-May). However, different trends were observed for root and leaf dry weights. Root and leaf dry weight increased up to the 120^th and 150^th day of the plant growth cycle, respectively, followed then by decreasing trends. Therefore, in the early growing season, leaves and root systems were developed using mother corms reservoirs, but at the end of the growth cycle replacement corms were grown by translocation of reservoirs from other saffron organs. In addition, the number and dry weight of buds had increasing trends during 160 days of measurement from the beginning of the growing season. The total length of roots and leaf area increased up to the middle of the growth cycle (Feb. 10) and then decreased. Moreover, saffron flower yield showed a rapid increasing trend in the first phase of the flowering period and then declined with a slower trend during the second flowering phase.     

Agronomic and economic efficiency of ground tire rubber and rubber ash used as zinc fertilizer sources for wheat

The aim of this 2-year field experiment was to investigate agronomic and economic efficiency of ground tire rubber and rubber ash as zinc (Zn) sources for wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Kavir and Back Cross) compared with a commercial zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄). A similar rate of Zn was used by soil incorporation of 40 kg/ha ZnSO₄, 200 kg/ha waste tire rubber ash, and 1000 kg/ha ground rubber. A no Zn added treatment was also considered as control. All Zn fertilizers significantly increased grain yield of wheat over the control, although effectiveness of rubber ash was greater than the other Zn sources. Wheat plants treated with rubber ash accumulated higher Zn in their grains compared with those treated with ground rubber and ZnSO₄. Tire rubber ash had the highest agronomic and economic efficiency and contained low levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Therefore, it can be used as an economic substitution for commercial ZnSO₄.     

Estimation of demand for wood panels in Iran by the year of 2012

Considering increasing rate of Iran population and consumption of wood panels, the authors investigated the per capita consumption of wood panels during the years from 1997 to 2007. The exponential smoothing method was used to obtain a per capita consumption pattern of wood panels in Iran for estimating demand of wood panels by the year of 2012. Results show that the consumption of particleboard, fiberboard, and medium density fiberboard in Iran will increase by 33%, 72% and 107 %, respectively, by the year of 2012; however, the consumption of plywood will increase only by 7% by 2012. The deficient amount of wood panels in Iran is estimated over 1400000 m3. The results of this study provide the technique reference for planners of wood panel industries in Iran in capital investment decisions.     

A model of supplying poplar wood for Iranian paper ＆ wood factories

The objective of this research is to design a method for an appropriate alternative to supply poplar wood as raw material for wood and paper factories in Iran.Due to the destruction of the forests and lack of proper plantation,replacement of the forest wood by the fast growing wood is vital to satisfy all requirements of these factories.A hierarchy was used to prioritize benefits,opportunities,costs and risks (BOCR) using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) ratings approach.To evaluate the "control criteria" of the system,a control hierarchy was also created and prioritized by applying the Analytic Network Process (ANP).A total of four major control criteria in the system are prioritized where each one controls a network structure evaluated by using ANP.The final synthesis results of the system showed that internal poplar tree farming supplied by the forest product factories was the best choice among three potential alternatives (factory procurement,external procurement and mix procurement).     

First insight into genetic diversity and population structure of the Caucasian wild apple (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus orientalis</Emphasis> Uglitzk.) in the Hyrcanian forest (Iran) and its resistance to apple scab and powdery mildew

Investigating population genetic structure and diversity, and resistance to pathogens in crop wild relatives are key steps to assess appropriate conservation and breeding programs. The Caucasian wild apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) is an emblematic fruit tree of the Hyrcanian forest and is supposed to be a contributor to the cultivated apple genome (Malus domestica Borkh. Yet, no study has investigated its population structure, diversity and susceptibility to the two main pathogens of apples, the apple scab (Venturia inaqualis) and the powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha). Here, we investigated population genetic structure and diversity of M. orientalis in the Hyrcanian forest as a mean to identifying future targeted populations for apple conservation and breeding programs. We genotyped using multilocus microsatellite 100 M. orientalis trees sampled in 14 sites. These trees were also screened for presence/absence of six (Rvi6, Vr, Rvi4, Rvi15, Rvi5 and Rvi11) and three (Pl-1, Pl-w, Pl-d) resistance genes to the apple scab and the powdery mildew respectively. Our results showed significant but weak between-site genetic differentiation and isolation by distance pattern suggesting substantial historical gene flow for M. orientalis in this area. We also detected a West-Eastern genetic structure across the Hyrcanian forest with five main populations showing admixture. We also showed a high diversity of resistance genes to apple scab across sites; in contrast, we only found one resistance gene to powdery mildew. These results are a first glimpse to settle wild apple conservation programs in Iran and pinpoint Iranian wild apple populations as an untapped source for apple breeding.