Comparison of chilling and heat requirement in some peach and apricot cultivars

Bud Dormancy in deciduous fruit trees of the temperate zones is a phase ofdevelopment that occurs annually and enables trees to survive cold winters. Chilling andheat requirements for breaking dormancy and flowering were studied in five peach (Kosary,Haj Kazemi, Anjiry Asali, Anjiry Zafarany, and Zoud Ras) and four apricot (asgarabad,shamlo, shakarpare, tabarze ghermez) cultivars. Various models (two chilling hour models,the <7C and 0-7C models, and two chilling unit models, the Utah and Low Chill) were usedto measure the accumulation of chilling requirement. The heat requirements were calculatedas the growing degree hours (GDH) accumulated from breaking of dormancy to the F50 (50%of opened flowers). The cultivars studied showed a range of chilling requirements (chillunits, CU), between 746 to 868 CU for peach and 652-826 CU for apricot. The heatrequirements for peaches and apricots were between (4099 to 4543GDH) and (2987 to3465GDH) respectively. Apricot cultivars with lower chilling and heat requirements showedearlier flowering dates. Thus apricot cultivars bloomed between 15 and 16 day before peachcultivars and Heat requirements were found to be more important for regulation offlowering time than were chilling requirement in our climatic condition

Pollen-pistil compatibility relationships in some Iranian almond (Prunus dulcis, Batch) genotypes as revealed by PCR analysis

The identification of pollen-pistil compatibility relationships among almond cultivars and genotypes is very important for breeders and growers. In the present study, PCR based technique was used to identify S-alleles in 10 late blooming almond genotypes. In total, 19 alleles were amplified by five primer pairs in the studied genotypes. The size of bands ranged between 480 - 2000 bp. Seven S-alleles were amplified using AS1II/AMYC5R primer pair, whereas each of the Alsc11/AMYC5R, Pru-C2/Pru-C4R, Pru-C2/Pru-C5R and Pru-C2/Pru-C6R primer pairs amplified nine different S-alleles. Based on S-allele patterns, all of the studied genotypes were identified as self-incompatible. However, some of the genotypes had only one similar S-allele, all of the genotypes could be used in establishment of commercial orchards based on their blooming times

Breakthrough Percepts of Famous Faces

Recently, we showed that presenting salient names (i.e. a participant’s first name) on the fringe of awareness (in Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) breaks through into awareness, resulting in the generation of a P3, which (if concealed information is presented) could be used to differentiate between deceivers and non-deceivers (Bowman et al., 2013; Bowman, Filetti, Alsufyani, Janssen, & Su, 2014). The aim of the present study was to explore whether face stimuli can be used in an ERP-based RSVP paradigm to infer recognition of broadly familiar faces. To do this, we explored whether famous faces differentially break into awareness when presented in RSVP and, importantly, whether ERPs can be used to detect these ‘breakthrough’ events on an individual basis. Our findings provide evidence that famous faces are differentially perceived and processed by participants’ brains as compared to novel (or unfamiliar) faces. EEG data revealed large differences in brain responses between these conditions

Effect of Partial Root Zone Drying on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Strawberry (Fragaria Ananassa Cv. Selva)

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of application of partial root zone drying technique on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv. Selva). The experiment was arranged as randomized complete blocks design with five treatments and four replications. One week after planting the seedlings, different irrigation regimes including FC: FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at field capacity), FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in one side of the roots at field capacity and in the other side at half field capacity), FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at field capacity and the other side is dry), ½ FC: Dry (moisture content in one side at half field capacity and the other side is dry) and 1/2 FC: 1/2 FC (moisture content in both sides of the roots at half field capacity) were applied by emitters (and controlled by moisture sensors). Traits such as fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, leaf number of leaves, chlorophyll index, leaf area index, leaf leakage of electrolytes, proline, and soluble solids were measured. Results showed that the highest fresh weight of vegetative parts and fruits, number of leaves, chlorophyll index and leaf area index were measured in FC: FC and FC: 1/2 FC treatments. Maximum electrolyte leakage, proline and soluble solids were in 1/2 FC: Dry treatment. Plants under this technique showed resistance mechanisms, against drought stress, such as proline production and reduction of number and surface of leaves

Analysis and Evaluation of Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Promotion of Village Areas

ABSTRACT: Village development is a multi-dimensional process, the subject of which is improvement and promotion of the quality of fragile groups of people residing in villages. One of the aspects of village development which can have a comprehensive impact on the life of the villagers is the extension and spread of the concept of village tourism. Village tourism can, by penetration and influencing on all aspects of village life, promote life both in terms of social and cultural aspects. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical, and the collection of data has been done through library and documentation sources. The results found show that regarding the variety of the village surroundings in the country, and despite having problems and issues in common such as unemployment, immigration, low income, low productivity and etc., all villages in the country do not have the capacity of absorbing and bearing tourists who come from an outer societies, and based on the cultural biases, religious beliefs, level of development, rate of education and the urban-village relation, have given different responses to accepting the village tourism. On the other hand, the conditions of the natural environment, economic activities and facilities that they may offer for the development of tourism, might be different and the results show that tourism has had more positive impacts in the economic perspective, but in terms of social and cultural aspects, there have been some changes made along the way

Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Reduced Glutathione on the Alleviation of Salinity Stress in Olive Plants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low molecular mass antioxidants and NaCl salinity on growth, ionic balance, proline, and water contents of ‘Zard’ olive trees under controlled greenhouse conditions. The experiment was carried out by spraying 2 mM of ascorbic acid (Asc) and 3 mM of reduced glutathione (GSH) on the plants that were treated with two salinity levels (0 and 100 mM NaCl) on their root medium. Plant growth parameters (leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, leaf number, total fresh weight, and total dry weight) were significantly improved by Asc compared with growth parameters in GSH and control plants. Higher concentrations of Na+ and Cl– were observed in salt-stressed plants, while Na+ and Cl– concentrations were decreased in the olive leaves that were sprayed with Asc. Salinity in the root zone caused a considerable decline in both K+ concentration and K/Na ratio. K+ concentration and K/Na ratio were significantly increased by application of Asc on plant leaves. Salinity caused an increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) compared with the control plants. Lowest EL and tissue water content (TWC) was obtained in Asc-sprayed plants, whereas TWC was increased in salt-stressed plants. Plants were subjected to salt stress and showed a higher relative water content (RWC) than the control plants. Salt stress induced proline accumulation in olive leaves. In conclusion, exogenous application of Asc is recommended to improve tolerance of olive plants under saline conditions

Self- and cross-(in)compatibility between important apricot cultivars in northwest Iran

Knowledge of the self-(in)compatibility trait in commercial apricot cultivars is of great importance for breeders and growers. Five commercial apricot cultivars, widely grown in Iran, were self- and cross-pollinated to determine their pollen and stylar compatibility. Fruit-set in the orchard and pollen tube growth in pistils, from flowers pollinated in the laboratory, were evaluated. In addition, specific primers previously designed to amplify fragments of the S alleles responsible for the incompatibility trait, were used to amplify DNA extracted from the five cultivars.All results agreed and confirmed that three out of the five cultivars studied were self-incompatible, two of which were cross-incompatible and therefore had the same genotype. The cultivars, ‘Ghorban-e-Marageh’ and ‘Ghermez-e-Shahroodi’ were self-compatible and, interestingly, shared a PCR band with all Spanish self-compatible apricot cultivars examined to date

Self- and cross-(in)compatibility between important apricot cultivars in northwest Iran

Knowledge of the self-(in)compatibility trait in commercial apricot cultivars is of great importance for breeders and growers. Five commercial apricot cultivars, widely grown in Iran, were self- and cross-pollinated to determine their pollen and stylar compatibility. Fruit-set in the orchard and pollen tube growth in pistils, from flowers pollinated in the laboratory, were evaluated. In addition, specific primers previously designed to amplify fragments of the S alleles responsible for the incompatibility trait, were used to amplify DNA extracted from the five cultivars.All results agreed and confirmed that three out of the five cultivars studied were self-incompatible, two of which were cross-incompatible and therefore had the same genotype. The cultivars, ‘Ghorban-e-Marageh’ and ‘Ghermez-e-Shahroodi’ were self-compatible and, interestingly, shared a PCR band with all Spanish self-compatible apricot cultivars examined to date