Analysis of the impact of nano-zinc, nano-iron, and nano-manganese fertilizers on chickpea under rain-fed conditions

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science widely exploited in many scientific fields but its application in agriculture is rarely studied in the world. In the current study, application of nanotechnology in agricultural via the application of some micronutrient nano-fertilizers (nano-zinc, nano-iron, and nano-manganese) and different sulfur fertilizers have been investigated. Three levels of sulfur fertilizer (S1: no application, S2: 15 Kg ha-1, S3: 30 Kg ha-1) and three micronutrients nano-fertilizer (Nano1: nano-chelated zinc, Nano2: nano-chelated iron, and Nano3: nano-chelated manganese) were studied on some morphophysiological traits of chickpea. Results showed that the first two principal components of treatment × trait (TT) biplot accounted to 56% and 18% respectively of total variation. The vertex treatments in polygon biplot were S1-Nano2, S1-Nano3, S2-Nano1, S3-Nano1, and S3-Nano2 which S3-Nano1 treatment indicated high performance in day to maturity, plant height, first pod height, primary branch per plants, secondary branch per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant and 1,000 seed weight. According to vector-view biplot, seed yield was positively associated with the number of pods per plant, harvest index and day to maturity. The ideal treatment identified the S3-Nano1 (30 kg ha-1 sulfur plus nano-chelated zinc) that might be used in selecting superior traits and it can be considered as the candidate treatment. The ideal trait of biplot showed that seed yield had the highest discriminating ability and they were the most representative and as the final target trait of producers, it has the ability of discrimination among different treatm ents. The best fertilizer treatment for obtaining of high seed yield was identified in the vector-view function of TT biplot as S3-Nano1 (30 kg ha-1 sulfur plus nano-chelated zinc)

Multivariate statistical analysis of some traits of bread wheat for breeding under rainfed conditions

In order to evaluate several agro-morphological traits in 56 wheat genotypes, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis were used for understanding the data structure and trait relations. The PCA showed that five components explained 69% of the total variation among traits. The first PCA was assigned 28% and the second PCA was assigned 13% of total variation among traits. The first PCA was more related to grain number, floret number, tiller number, stem diameter, leaf width and spikelet number. Therefore, the selection may be done according to the first component and it was helpful for a good breeding program for development of high yielding cultivars. The correlation coefficient between any two traits is approximated by the cosine of the angle between their vectors in the plot of the first two PCAs and the most prominent relations were between grain diameter and grain yield; and between grain length and 1,000 seed weight. The factor analysis divided the eighteen traits into five factors and the first factor included stem diameter, leaf width, tiller number, spike length, floret number, spikelet number, grain number and grain yield. The second factor was composed of some morphological traits and indicated the importance of the grain diameter, grain length, 1,000 seed weight and grain yield. The two PCA and factor analysis methods were found to give complementary information, and therefore such knowledge would assist the plant breeders in making their selection. In other words, this data reduction would let the plant breeder reduce field costs required to obtain the genetic parameter estimates necessary to construct selection indices

Fluorescencja chlorofilu w odpowiedzi pszenicy na egzogenną aplikację regulatorów wzrostu w stresie suszy

Drought stress negatively affects plant photosynthesis and disturbs the electron transport activity. Evaluation of the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters might reflect influence of the environmental stress on plants and can be applied as an indicator of the primary photochemistry of photosynthesis. In current study the effect of foliar application of benzylaminopurine (BAP, a synthetic cytokinin) and abscisic acid (ABA) on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of relatively drought tolerant (Pishtaz) and susceptible (Karaj3) bread wheat genotypes under well watered and terminal water deficit condition have been evaluated. Terminal drought was induced by withholding water at anthesis stage (Zadoks scale 65). Results showed that coefficient of non-photochemical quenching of variable fluorescence (qN), quantum yield of PS II photochemistry (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) were affected by hormone spray treatments. So that evaluation of parameters at 7 day after foliar treatments revealed that ABA significantly increased electron transport rate (ETR) and qN while considerably decreased ΦPSII, gs and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). However exogenous application of cytokinin could increase gs, Fv/Fm and ΦPSII and the highest value of these parameters was recorded in cytokinin treated plants of Pishtaze cv. under well watered condition. Nevertheless, evaluation of the parameters in different periods after spraying showed that with approaching the maturity stage some traits like as gs, Fv/Fm and ETR significantly decreased in both genotypes. Evaluation of gs and Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of genotypes between different irrigation levels showed that although cv. Pishtaz showed higher performance of PSII under well watered condition, it failed to maintain its superiority under stress condition. This finding suggests that some more responsive parameter like gs, Fv/Fm and ΦPSII can be considered as reliable indicator for understanding the biochemical and physiological effects of exogenous application of phytohormones under terminal drought stress.Stres suszy wpływa negatywnie na fotosyntezę roślin oraz zakłóca transport elektronów. Ocena parametrów fluorescencji chlorofilu może odzwierciedlać wpływ stresu środowiskowego na rośliny i może być stosowana jako wskaźnik pierwotnych reakcji fotochemicznych fotosyntezy. W prezentowanych badaniach oceniano wpływ dolistnego stosowania benzyloaminopuryny (BAP, syntetyczna cytokinina) i kwasu abscysynowego (ABA) na parametry fluorescencji chlorofilu w stosunkowo odpornych na suszę (Pishtaz) i podatnych (Karaj3) genotypach pszenicy w warunkach dobrego nawodnienia i skrajnego deficytu wody. Krańcową suszę wywoływano w fazie kwitnienia (65 w skali Zadoks). Wykazano, że współczynnik niefotochemicznego wygaszania fluorescencji (qN), wydajność kwantowa reakcji fotochemicznych PS II (ΦPSII) i fotochemiczne wygaszanie (qP) ulegały zmianom po opryskiwaniu liści hormonami. Ocena parametrów po 7 dniach od dolistnego podania hormonu wykazała, że ABA znacząco zwiększa sprawność transportu elektronów (ETR) i qN, znacznie zmniejsza ΦPSII, gs i maksymalną wydajność kwantową fotosystemu II (Fv/Fm). Jednak egzogenne zastosowanie cytokininy może zwiększyć gs, Fv/Fm i ΦPSII, a najwyższą wartość tych parametrów odnotowano w traktowanych cytokininą roślinach odmiany Pishtaze w warunkach dobrego nawodnienia. Ocena parametrów w różnych okresach po oprysku wykazała, że w bardziej dojrzałych roślinach wskaźniki takie jak gs, Fv/Fm i ETR znacznie zmniejszyły się w obu genotypach. Ocena gs i parametrów fluorescencji chlorofilu genotypów w warunkach różnych poziomów nawodnienia wykazała, że chociaż genotypy Pishtaz wykazały wyższą wydajność PSII w stanie dobrego nawodnienia, nie udało się utrzymać przewagi w warunkach stresu. Odkrycie to sugeruje, że niektóre bardziej czułe parametry takie jak gs, Fv/Fm i ΦPSII mogą być wiarygodnym wskaźnikiem dla zrozumienia biochemicznych i fizjologicznych efektów egzogennego stosowania fitohormonów w warunkach krańcowego stresu suszy

Effect of fertilizers and planting methods on safflower fatty acid profile

Soils in semi-dry areas lack sufficient nutrients for crops, so their yield depends on fertilizers and planting methods. This study aimed to investigate how the fatty acids in safflower oil change with the use of fertilizers and planting methods. Five fertilizers [F1: control; F2: 10 t ha-1 of farmyard manure; F3: 20 t ha-1 of farmyard manure; F4: NPK (130:60:45 kg ha-1); F5: nano-Fe and nano-Zn] and four planting patterns (P1: 40-cm furrow planting; P2: 60-cm furrow planting; P3: 40-cm ridge planting; P4: 60-cm ridge planting) were tested. A biplot analysis explained 73 % of the variability, with the first and second principal components accounting for 54 and 19 %, respectively. The polygon-view was divided into five sections, with F3-P4 being the best for oil and protein contents, stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3) and lauric (12:0) acids, and iodine value. The vector-view showed a positive association among iodine value, oil content and linoleic, oleic, linolenic, stearic and lauric acids, as well as between myristic acid (14:0) and protein content, and between saponification and peroxide values. The best treatments were F4-P4, F4-P3 and F5-P4. Therefore, using NPK chemical fertilizer or nano-Fe and nano-Zn, combined with planting on a ridge with a 40 or 60-cm interrow distance, can be beneficial for producing high-quality safflower oil

Proteome response of winter-hardy wheat to cold acclimation

The proteome analysis of winter crops during cold acclimation and overwintering can provide important information for designing breeding processes. The current experiment was carried out to investigate the proteome changes in frost-tolerant winter wheat (cv. Norstar) during different cold acclimation (CA) periods under field conditions in a cold and high-altitude region by two-dimensional gel-based proteomic techniques. The results showed that frost tolerance significantly increased by CA and the lethal freezing temperatures (LT50) 10, 14, and 18 weeks after seed sowing were -28°C, -22°C, and -10°C, respectively. By the beginning of the reproductive stage (double ridge stage), the LT50 values had decreased significantly. Around 1000 protein spots were distinguished by Coomassie staining on the gels. The changes in the proteins during the CA often occurred in those with a functional role in photosynthesis, energy production (glycolysis), transcription, chaperone-like activities, membrane and cytoskeleton reorganisation, transport, redox adjustments, and signalling. The results revealed that changes in chloroplast proteins, certain transcription factors such as MADS-box transcription factor 26, and antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase) show a similar trend to freezing tolerance, and their expression decreases with the onset of reproductive growth and the loss of freezing tolerance. During the acclimation period, most of the changes were focused on defence systems and cytoskeleton rearrangement, while, photosynthesis, and energy production became the main priority at the beginning of reproductive growth

Responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) var. Agria to application of bio, bulk and nano-fertilizers

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), is one of the important crops grown in the world which is important as food and nutritional security option at the global level. The experiment was laid out as randomized complete block design in three replications with six nutrition treatments consisted of control, NPK, Mog bio-fertilizer, Nano-Ca, Nano-Zn+B and Nano-Com. The treatment-by-trait (TT) biplot analysis was applied to data to examine its usefulness in visualizing relationships among trait as well as treatments and showed that the first two principal components accounted 80% of total variation. Tuber yield, mean tuber diameter, mean tuber weight, tuber weight per plant, starch content of initial fresh, number of tubers per plant, number of leaves and dry matter content were in the same sector, with Nano-Com fertilizer treatment as the best treatment. Based on ideal entry biplot, the Nano-Com treatment is closest to the position of an ideal treatment and it is ranked the highest in term of morphological performance. Also, the best fertilizer treatment for obtaining of high tuber yield could be found as Nano-Com treatment following Nano-Zn+B treatment. The studied nanofertilizers showed a good potential compared to the commercial bulk and bio fertilizers

Assessment of genotype × trait interaction of rye genotypes for some morphologic traits through GGE biplot methodology

Effective interpretation of the data on breeding programs is important at all stages of plant improvement and the genotype by trait (GT) biplot was used for two-way wheat dataset as genotypes with multiple traits. For this propose, 18 rye genotypes with specific characteristics were evaluated in randomized block design with four replications. The GT biplot for rye dataset explained 61% of the total variation of the standardized data (the first two principal components explained 40 and 21% respectively). The polygon view of GT presented for 11 different traits of rye cultivars showed six vertex cultivars as G1, G3, G6, G8, G11 and G13 whose genotype G8 had the highest values for most of the measured traits. Generally based on vector view, ideal genotype and ideal tester biplots, it was demonstrated that the selection of high seed yield will be performed via seed number per spike, first internode weight, number of spike per area and harvest index. These traits should be considered simultaneously as effective selection criteria evolving high yielding rye cultivars because of their large contribution to seed yield. The genotypes G8 and G7 following to genotypes G3, G18 and G19 could be considered for the developing of desirable progenies in the selection strategy of rye improvement programs

Genotypic response of barley to exogenous application of nanoparticles under water stress condition

Beneficial nanoparticles (SiO2 and TiO2) can have various profound effects on the crop physiological, biochemical and morphological characteristics. Here, we evaluated the mitigation of drought stress in barley genotypes by foliar application of SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles under filed condition in North West of Iran. Nanoparticles were foliar applied in late vegetative phase and during reproductive stages. Drought was imposed at by irrigation withdrawals during the dry months in the end of the growing season. We measured parameters related morphological growth, yield, and yield component. The genetic diversity between the genotypes was quite evident and the highest seed yield and yield component were recorded for G1, G2, G4, G11, G12 and G13. Foliar application of nanoparticles considerably affected the plant height, thousand seed weight, biological and seed yield. The best performance was observed for plant treated with SiO2 nanoparticles. Spike length of G2, G6, G13 and G20 considerably responded to nano silicone foliar application. However, the best results for G8, G11 and G20 were obtained by foliar application TiO2 nanoparticles while this treatment decreased the seed yield components in G1, G5, G9, G10, G15 and G20. This could be due to genetic variation between the evaluated genotypes and high sensitivity of some genotypes to the applied concentration. The results of current study showed that application of SiO2 nanoparticles under water stress condition could have more beneficial effects on yield component of barley genotypes

The effect of concomitant use of nano-structured essential metals and sulfur on growth characteristics of safflower

Deficiencies of zinc, manganese and iron are common in calcareous soils of arid and semiarid regions due to their reduced solubility alkaline conditions. However, sustainable crop production is essential for growing population. Sulfur fertilizers can increase micronutrients availability by decreasing soil pH. In order to investigate the influence of nano-chelated essential metals (Zn, Mn, Fe) and sulfur application (zero and 40 kg ha-1) an experiment was carried out in Maragheh, northwest of Iran. Phenological development, morphological and agronomic traits significantly responded to both factors. Results revealed that application of sulfur fertilizer considerably increased morphological traits such as ground cover, stem diameter, plant height and capitulum diameter. Mean comparison between nano-chelated metal showed that the highest value for seed yield and yield components (number of the capitulum per plants, seed number per capitulum and seed weight) was achieved through the application of nano-chelated Zn. The best performance was related to combined application of sulfur and nano-chelated Zn which was followed by nano-chelated Fe. Seed oil content was only affected by nano-metals, so the highest value was obtained by application of nano-chelated Zn. Overall our finding revealed that integrated application of sulfur and essential metals, especially Zn, is required to grow safflower successfully on calcareous soils. The efficiency of nano-chelated fertilizers can be noticeably increased by balanced nutrient management in semi-arid regions

Impact of foliar application of nano micronutrient fertilizers and titanium dioxide nanoparticles on the growth and yield components of barley under supplemental irrigation

Nano-fertilizers are new generation of the synthetic fertilizers which contain readily available nutrients in nano scale range. Nano fertilizers are preferred largely due to their efficiency and environment friendly nature compared to conventional chemical fertilizers. To evaluate the effects of foliar spray of micronutrient nano-fertilizer (iron and zinc) and nano-titanium dioxide (nTiO2) solution on grain yield and its components in barley under supplemental irrigation conditions, a field experiment was carried out in the semi-arid highland region of Maragheh, Iran. Barley plants were separately treated with of chelated nano-scale zinc oxide (ZnO) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3) suspensions during tillering stage, booting and milky stages. Results revealed that days to anthesis and maturity significantly increased after application of both nano-fertilizers. Furthermore, a considerable improvement was observed in grain mass, spike length, number of the grains per spike, chlorophyll content, grain yield and harvest index by application of nano-fertilizer. However the impact of nano zinc fertilizer was more prominent than iron. Foliar application of nTiO2 positively affected some morphophysiological characteristics like as days to anthesis, chlorophyll content and straw yield. The results suggest that the delivery of Zn into barley seedling through spray of nano-fertilizer can be an efficient nutrient management strategy in semi-arid regions. Overall, our result indicated that the integration of nanotechnology in fertilizer products can improve fertilizer use efficiency and significantly increase of barley yield. However, plant response to nanoparticles significantly depend on concentration and time of application as well as size, shape, and surface functionalization of the particles