MINERAL NUTRIENT CONTENT OF TOMATO PLANTS IN AQUAPONIC AND HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS: EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SOME MACRO- AND MICRO-NUTRIENTS

Effects of foliar applications of some micro- and macro-nutrients on mineral nutrient content of tomato leaves and fruits were investigated in an aquaponic system in comparison with a hydroponic system. Fourteen days old tomatoes seedlings were transplanted on to growth bed of aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Foliar nutrients application began 30 days after transplantation. Eight treatments were used, untreated control and foliar application at the rate of 250 mL plant^?1 with 0.5 g L^?1 potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄ 7H₂O), ferrous (Fe)- ethylenediamine-N,N′-bis (EDDHA), manganese sulfate (MnSO₄ H₂O), boric acid (H₃BO₃), zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), and copper sulfate (CuSO₄ 5H₂O). Foliar application of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) increased their corresponding concentrations in the leaves of aquaponic-treated plants. On the other hand, foliar spray of K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu caused a significant increment of applied element concentrations in the fruits of hydroponic-grown plants. These findings indicated that foliar application of some elements can effectively alleviate nutrient deficiencies in the leaves of tomatoes grown on aquaponics.     

Effects of Artificial Pollination Using Pollen Suspension Spray on Nut and Kernel Quality of Pistachio Cultivar Owhadi

Yield and nut quality in pistachio are highly dependent on cultural practices especially pollination. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pollen suspension spray containing 0.01% and 0.02% boric acid combined with 1% (w/v) pollen on nut and kernel quality of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. cv. Owhadi). The experiment was carried out as RCBD with three replications over 2011–12 period. The results showed that application of medium containing agar (A) and 0.01% boric acid (B1) combined with 1% (w/v) pollen decreased fruit set in both years compared to control whereas nut splitting was increased during 2012. Pollen suspension sprays unaffected nut and kernel dimensions in both years but increased kernel proteins and decreased oil during 2011. According to this study, it could be postulated that artificial pollination in pistachio using pollen suspension spray is possible.     

Lead stabilization in a polluted calcareous soil using cost-effective biochar and zeolite amendments after spinach cultivation

Biochar has been shown to be an effective organic soil amendment for the in-situ immobilization of lead (Pb).Little research has been done on the effects of biochar and zeolite interactions on Pb immobilization in contaminated calcareous soils.Therefore,the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of zeolite (2% and 4%,weight:weight) and biochars (3%,weight:weight) prepared from green compost (GB),poultry manure (PB),and municipal waste (MB) on the content of Pb in sp...     

焉耆盆地耕地数量时空变化驱动力及生态环境效应分析

利用1988—2011年统计资料,采用多元统计分析与文献调查方法,分析焉耆盆地近20多年来耕地时空变化情况及其驱动机理,并讨论耕地动态变化对研究区生态环境的影响。结果表明：(1) 1988—2011年间,焉耆盆地耕地面积动态变化存在着明显的波动状态,大体上呈增加趋势。耕地面积从1988年的76.25×10⁴ hm²增加至2011年的135.70×10⁴ hm²,增加幅度为178%,净增加59.45×10⁴ hm²,各县耕地面积变化趋势基本相同;(2) 影响焉耆盆地耕地动态变化的驱动因子可归纳为政策变动 、经济发展、人口增长、农业科技进步等四大因素;(3) 耕地动态变化在某种程度上改善焉耆盆地生态环境同时,导致了绿洲外围沙漠化,绿洲内部土壤盐渍化,湖泊、湿地减少等一系列生态环境问题,威胁了绿洲稳定性。     

Decay threshold of acetylated rattan (Calamus manan) against soft rot

We investigated the resistance of acetylated rattan against soft rot and other soil inhabiting micro-organisms in comparison with wood of beech and Scots pine. Calamus manan of 10 and 13 years old under rubber tree canopy was acetylated to different levels by reaction times (0.25 to 30 hours) and was tested for soft rot decay for 32 weeks. Acetylated rattan at decay protection thresholds of 15.4% and 16.2% weight gain (WG) were fully protected, as shown by both weight loss and strength loss criteria. The static bending properties of untreated rattan decayed by soft rot were significantly lower than for acetylated rattan.     

Reproduction of juniper (Juniperus polycarpos) in Khorasan Razavi, Iran

Juniperus species （juniper） are resistant to drought and have medicinal properties. In order to investigatethe condition of juniper reproduction and prevent a decline in its area, largely caused by problems in natural regeneration, the asexual reproduction of juniper has received special attention besides its sexual propagation. Among the six species of juniper in Iran, the most abundant are Juniperus polycarpos and J. excelsa. Juniperus polycarpos is ambi-sexual and J. excelsa unisexual. We show that collecting seeds in September provided for better germination than in November. In sexual propagation 82.0% and in asexual （graft） 47.6% success were achieved. Compared to a mixture of water, lime and hormones, a natural treatment of only water had better results. Diurnal change of temperature increased germination of juniper seeds over a constant temperature. Aphyllous stem cuttings from mature and old trees are less successful in rooting than leafy cuttings of juniper saplings. A treatment with Aaterra significantly reduced the percentage of rooted cuttings and total root length. Aliette, Fongarid, Octave, Benomyl, Delsene M and Maneb fungicides significantly increased the percentage of rooted cuttings but did not affect total root length. Autumn explants formed more calli than spring explants. Successful multiplication was achieved by treating buds with a mixture of 0.7% polyvinyl pyrrolidone （PVP） and 2% sucrose and cultured in a basal MS or WRC medium, with a maximum number of new buds. In consideration of extracted material of juniper species in remedy of infectious, fungus, contagious diseases as well as for drought resistance and longevity of this species in severe arid environmental conditions and various industrial applications, reproduction and seed production by micro propagation and biotechnology are necessary.     

Grain Yield and Qualitative of Rapeseed Genotypes Change in Response to Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid and Planting Density

Gesunde Pflanzen - A factorial split-plot experiment (2015–17) was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Karaj, Iran, to investigate...     

Human Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (hG-CSF) Expression in Plastids of Lactuca sativa

Background: Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) can serve as valuable biopharmaceutical for research and treatment of the human blood cancer. Transplastomic plants have been emerged as a new and high potential candidate for production of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins in comparison with transgenic plants due to extremely high level expression, biosafety and many other advantages. Methods: hG-CSF gene was cloned into pCL vector between prrn16S promoter and TpsbA terminator. The recombinant vector was coated on nanogold particles and transformed to lettuce chloroplasts through biolistic method. Callogenesis and regeneration of cotyledonary explants were obtained by Murashige and Skoog media containing 6-benzylaminopurine and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid hormones. The presence of hG-CSF gene in plastome was studied with four specific PCR primers and expression by Western immunoblotting. Results: hG-CSF gene cloning was confirmed by digestion and sequencing. Transplastomic lettuce lines were regenerated and subjected to molecular analysis. The presence of hG-CSF in plastome was confirmed by PCR using specific primers designed from the plastid genome. Western immunoblotting of extracted protein from transplastomic plants showed a 20-kDa band, which verified the expression of recombinant protein in lettuce chloroplasts. Conclusions: This study is the first report that successfully express hG-CSF gene in lettuce chloroplast. The lettuce plastome can provide a cheap and safe expression platform for producing valuable biopharmaceuticals for research and treatment.Key Words: Plastid, Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF), Biolistics, Gene targeting     

Corn flour-mimosa tannin-based adhesives without formaldehyde for interior particleboard production

A formaldehyde-free adhesive consisting of a corn flour/NaOH adhesive mixture and a mimosa tannin/hexamine intermediate component was developed and evaluated for application to wood panels such as particleboards. The main ingredients of this adhesive include corn flour, NaOH, mimosa tannin and hexamine. This study investigated the physical properties (rheological and thermal analysis) of corn flour/NaOH and mimosa tannin/hexamine adhesives as well as mechanical properties of particleboards produced with these adhesives. Thermomechanical (TMA) experiments indicate the best performance of the adhesives to be around the relative mass proportions of 50:50 between corn flour/NaOH and mimosa tannin/hexamine. Former NMR measurements on corn starch and mimosa tannin proved that the two components behave as a polymer blend rather than co-reacting. The laboratory results show that particleboards bonded with the adhesive at this optimal ratio show good mechanical properties. Moreover, the formaldehyde emission levels obtained from boards bonded with the optimal adhesive were considerably lower to those obtained from boards made with control urea formaldehyde.     

Effect of Planting Geometry on the Growth and Yield Performance of Maize Intercropped with Rice

A field experiment with maize and rice planted under four planting configurations in an intercropping system was conducted to evaluate the plant competition effects on the performance of component crops. Intercropping substantially reduced grain yields of both rice and maize. Rice yield was generally low giving monocrop yield of 1,084 kg/ha. Intercropped rice ranged between 179 kg/ha and 615 kg/ha depending on maize planting arrangement. Monocrop maize yielded highest in square planting (3,617 kg/ha) and lowest in skip-row (2,600 kg/ha) planting, but planting geometry did not influence intercropped maize yield. Monocrop maize outyielded the combined yield of component crops suggesting no yield advantage through rice-maize intercropping.