Effects of Deficient Irrigation on Some of the Morpho-physiological Characteristics of Four Fig Cultivars

Introduction: The amount of water available to plants includes one of the most important factors that affect the growth of plants. The objective of the present study was to investigate and compare the tolerance of different fig types (Ficus carica L.) to different low irrigation treatments. Materials and Methods: A factorial trial based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications was carried out in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The treatments of this experiment were four levels of irrigation including; supplying enough water to pots (100% field capacity), mild stress (75% field capacity), average stress (50% field capacity) and severe stress (25% field capacity) on Green, Black, Shah Fig and Matthew cultivars. Some of morphological and physiological traits like stem growth, leaf umber, leaf area, root length, root area, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, root to shoot ratio, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll and proline were measured. Results and Discussion: According to the results, significant differences were observed between different irrigation treatments for all measured parameters. The highest level of stem growth, leaf umber and leaf area were detected in control treatment (100% field capacity), while the lowest contents were observed in severe stress (25% field capacity). The results showed that the fresh and dry weight of shoot and root decreased with increasing drought stress, so that the lowest amounts were observed in severe stress treatment (25% field capacity). The levels of relative water content was significantly affected by different irrigation treatments, since treated plants with severe stress treatment (25% field capacity) had the lowest relative water values, while the highest levels was observed in control treatment (100% field capacity). The highest and lowest of total chlorophyll content was observed in control treatments (100% field capacity) and severe stress (25% field capacity), respectively. Among the study treatments, severe stress treatment (25% field capacity) had the highest amount of root length, root area, root to shoot ratio and control treatment had the lowest root length, root area, root to shoot ratio. The obtained results detected that electrolyte leakage increased with increasing drought stress. The severe stress treatment (25% field capacity), had the highest proline content, followed by the average stress treatment (50% field capacity), while the lowest value was observed in control (100% field capacity). A variation in terms of all measured parameters also was observed among the cultivars and the differences were statistically significant. Among the presently tested cultivars, Black has the best resistant ability to drought stress than in other cultivar. Conclusion: This research showed all measured parameters were significantly affected by irrigation treatments and cultivars. These data demonstrated that cultivar was the main parameter which influences the morpho-physiological properties in figs

Effect of IBA and Medium on Rooting of Two New Selected Peach × Almond Hybrids Cuttings

Introduction: Potential almond rootstock and thus main genetic sources for the breeding of its new rootstocks are almond itself, peach and plum, and these species cross-breeds Almond is a source of resistance to limestone and to drought because of its roots, which reach deep layers of soil; it is also more resistant than peach to Na and Bo. Asexual or vegetative propagation is a hereditable characteristic and this paper is a review of sources available on this character for almond rootstock breeding. The bibliographic reference regarding this species, vegetative propagation is very poor. Stem cutting is considered the most simple and economical method of propagation. It is important, particularly in horticulture for mass production of improved material within a short time and to perpetuate the characteristics of the parent plant. Materials and Methods: In this study the effects of different concentrations of indole-3- butyric acid (IBA) and medium type on rooting of hardwood stem cuttings of two rootstocks natural hybrids of almond × peach and the clone of G.F.677(as control) was investigated in plastic greenhouse with bottom heat, In this research 4 levels of IBA (0.3000,6000 and 9000 mg/l) and three levels of bed (perlait, cocopeat and, mixtures of 2 perlite + 1cocopeat) on rooting of hardwood cuttings of two almond × peach natural hybrids and control was used in a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Hardwood cuttings were prepared in Department of Horticultural Sciences of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at January 2011. The basal one inch of cuttings was treated with IBA solution for five seconds at 3000, 6000 and 9000 ppm. the following components were determined, the rooting percentage of cuttings, number of root, length of roots, roots fresh and dry weight and volume of roots Results and Discussion: Results showed that effects of different concentrations of IBA, on the rooting percentage of cuttings were significantly different at the %1 level compare with control. In this case were observed the highest of rooting percentage (40.9) at concentration of 3000(mg/l) and the lowest percentage (12.7) in control. The observations showed that treating almond hardwood cuttings with 3000 ppm IBA gave the highest significant rooting percentage compared with other treatments. Furthermore, results of many investigations indicated that, IBA increased rooting percentage, number of roots/cutting, length and fresh weight of roots. Also on the trait there were significantly differences in the %1 level between the growing Medias. Rooting percentage of cuttings expanded by bed of perlait. Results showed that effects of different rootstocks on the rooting percentage of cuttings were significantly different at the %1 level. In this trait observed the highest of rooting percentage at G.F.677 and there was no significant difference between the two other rootstocks.Treated with control rootstock with IBA at 3000 mg/l and Perlait resulted in the highest rooting percentage ،the maximum number of roots and root length. In the traits rooting percentage, number of roots and root length was interactions between, concentrations × bed × rootstocks significantly different at the %1 level. The result was better than Gf677× 3000 ppm of IBA × perlite bed. Also effect of treatments concentrations on root volume was significant at the %5 level. Highest root volume obtained in a concentration of 3000 mg/l of IBA. Conclusion: From our preliminary results, it could be inferred that there is a correlation between types of rootstock, concentrations of IBA and media in rooting ability of hardwood cuttings rootstocks of almond × peach. In this study, the desired result was obtained from the interaction between treatments concentration of 3000 mg per liter of IBA in perlite media and GF677 rootstock

Effect of Water Deficit Stress on Peach Growth under Commercial Orchard Management Conditions

In order to study the sensitivity of vegetative growth to water deficit stress of a late-maturing peach (Prunus persica L. cv. Elberta) under orchard conditions, an experiment was conducted as randomized complete-block design with three treatments and four repetitions in Shahdiran commercial orchard in Mashhad during 2011. Three irrigation treatments including 360 (low stress), 180 (moderate stress) and 90 (severe stress) m3ha-1week-1 using a drip irrigation system (minimum stem water potential near harvest: -1.2, -1.5 and -1.7 MPa, respectively) from the mid-pit hardening stage (12th of June) until harvest (23rd of Sep.) applied. Predawn, stem and leaf water potentials, leaf photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, the number of new shoots on fruit bearing shoots and vegetative shoots lengths during growing season as well as leaf area at harvest were measured. The results showed that water deficit stress had negative effects on peach tree water status, thereby resulting in decreased leaf gas exchange and tree vegetative growth. As significant decreased assimilate production of tree was resulted from both decreased leaf assimilation rate (until about 23 % and 50 %, respectively under moderate and severe stress conditions compared to low stress conditions) and decreased leaf area of tree (until about 57% and 79%, respectively under moderate and severe stress conditions compared to low stress conditions at harvest). The significant positive correlation between leaf water potential and vegetative growth of peach revealed that shoot growth would decrease by 30% and 50% of maximum at leaf water potential of –1.56 and –2.30 MPa, respectively

Postharvest biology and technology of plum

Games can provide an effective and replicable space in which stakeholders learn skills necessary for deliberative and pluralist policymaking. These skills are especially important for “nexus” policy issues that are typically characterised by multiple, competing problem frames involving overlapping networks of stakeholders. In this position paper, we describe three serious games that serve as a space for players (stakeholders) and researchers to jointly explore alternative solutions to complex resource management issues: the Water-Food-Energy Nexus Game (Nexus Game); the Narubu Game of Many Voices (Narubu Game); and the Forest Governance Game (Forest Game). The games contain instructive and reflexive mechanisms that prompt players to self-discover common challenges associated with complex nexus issues, including conflicting institutional mandates, social dilemmas, contending worldviews, and plural interpretations of science