Assessment of Copper Pollution in the Surface Layer of Vineyard Soils in Malayer, Iran

Background and Aims: Soil contamination by copper (Cu) very often occurs in the soil surface layer of vineyard cultivations, due to the heavy use of copper fungicides in order to protect against fungal grape diseases. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate copper concentration in the superficial layer of vineyard cultivation in Malayer, Iran, and also to prepare the pollution map of copper in this region.Materials and Methods: Twenty five surface soil samples (0-20 cm) of Malayer vineyard region were collected and consequently were subjected to Cu concentration assessment. Soil samples were air dried and sieved, and the categorized <0.149 mm fraction was used in subsequent digestion operation. The concentrations of Cu in extracted solutions were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The inverse distanceweighting (IDW) method was used to interpolate copper concentrations in the whole study area owing to the limited amount of data.Results: The low concentrations of copper in the range of 3.95 to 15.09 mg/kg with a mean value of 7.36 mg/kg were noticed in the studied vineyard soils. The total Cu concentrations were generally similar to those reported for natural soils.Conclusion: Observed low concentrations of copper in studied vineyard cultivations and indeed homogeneous distribution of copper in the soil, implies that the copper concentrations were controlled by geological processes. Heterogeneous distribution of Cu in the small part of southern region could be linked with anthropogenic impacts.Key words: Copper, Malayer, Vineyard soil

Effect of chitosan on propagation of zamiifolia as tropical ornamental indoor plant by leaf cutting

Zamiifolia (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is an ornamental and perennial medicinal plant, which belongs to Araceae family. This plant holds a prominent place in the economic significance of this particular plant family. This study aimed to examine the process of root development and rhizome production through leaf cuttings of zamiifoliain the this experiment. This experiment was conducted as factorial design within a completely randomized framework design with three replications. Experimental treatments composed of chitosan application at three levels (0, 250 and 500 mg L-1), and the positioning of leaflet cuttings along the main axis of the mother leaf (apical, middle, and basal). After the application of the treatments, the leaflet cuttings were subjected to a four-month rooting period. This rooting process took place in a growth medium consisting of a balanced mixture of perlite and cocopeat mixed in a volume ratio of 1:1. The results exhibited significant effects of different chitosan concentrations on several parameters, including rhizome number, rhizome width, the number of roots, and the quality of the mother leaf. In addition, the type of leaflet cutting demonstrated a significant influence on the width and number of rhizomes. These results demonstrated that the application of chitosan at concentrations of 250 and 500 mg L-1 had a positive effect and resulted in increased rhizome number, rhizome width, and number of roots. Overall, it can be concluded that chitosan can promote the growth and development of zamiifolia by stimulating rhizome production and improving root proliferation

بررسی وجود آلودگی مس در لایه سطحی خاک تاکستان های ملایر

زمينه و هدف: آلودگي فلزي خاک به ويژه توسط مس پديده‌اي است که اغلب در لايه سطحي خاک‌هاي تاکستان به دليل استفاده مکرر از قارچ کش هاي مسي براي کنترل بيماري‌هاي انگور اتفاق مي‌افتد. هدف از اين پژوهش بررسي غلظت مس در خاک سطحي باغ‌هاي انگور ملاير و تهيه نقشه آلودگی مس در منطقه مورد مطالعه بود.   مواد و روش‌ها: براي ارزيابي وضعيت مس 25 نمونه خاک سطحی از لايه 0 تا 20 سانتي‌متر تاكستان‌هاي ملاير برداشت شد. همه ﻧﻤﻮﻧﻪﻫﺎي ﺧﺎک در ﻫﻮاي آزاد ﺧﺸﮏ شده و پس از الک شدن، ذرات کمتر از 149/0 ميلي‌متر براي عمليات هضم استفاده شدند. غلظت مس در نمونه‌های خاک توسط دستگاه جذب اتمي به روش شعله تشخیص داده شد. روش وزن‌دهي فاصله معکوس براي درون‌يابي غلظت مس در کل منطقه مورد مطالعه به دليل داده‌هاي محدود به کار برده شد. يافته‌ها: غلظت‌هاي پاييني از مس در خاک تاکستان شناسايي شده است به گونه‌اي‏ که دامنه غلظت مس در اين خاک‌ها بين 95/3 تا 09/15 mg/ kg با ميانگين 36/7 بود. به طور کلي غلظت مس در خاک باغ‌هاي انگور ملاير مشابه با غلظت گزارش شده براي خاک‌هاي طبيعي بود. نتيجه گيري: مقادير پايين غلظت مس در خاک تاکستان‌ها از یک طرف و از طرف دیگر نقشه کمابیش همگن پراکنش غلظت مس در آنها حاکی از آن است که غلظت مس در منطقه به دست فرآيندهاي زمين شناسي کنترل مي‌شود. توزيع ناهمگون غلظت مس در بخش کوچکی از جنوب منطقه نشان دهنده اثرات انساني است.Background and Aims: Soil contamination by copper (Cu) very often occurs in the soil surface layer of vineyard cultivations, due to the heavy use of copper fungicides in order to protect against fungal grape diseases. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate copper concentration in the superficial layer of vineyard cultivation in Malayer, Iran, and also to prepare the pollution map of copper in this region.Materials and Methods: Twenty five surface soil samples (0-20 cm) of Malayer vineyard region were collected and consequently were subjected to Cu concentration assessment. Soil samples were air dried and sieved, and the categorized <0.149 mm fraction was used in subsequent digestion operation. The concentrations of Cu in extracted solutions were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The inverse distanceweighting (IDW) method was used to interpolate copper concentrations in the whole study area owing to the limited amount of data.Results: The low concentrations of copper in the range of 3.95 to 15.09 mg/kg with a mean value of 7.36 mg/kg were noticed in the studied vineyard soils. The total Cu concentrations were generally similar to those reported for natural soils.Conclusion: Observed low concentrations of copper in studied vineyard cultivations and indeed homogeneous distribution of copper in the soil, implies that the copper concentrations were controlled by geological processes. Heterogeneous distribution of Cu in the small part of southern region could be linked with anthropogenic impacts

Response of black mulberry onto white mulberry rootstock to stenting (cutting-grafting) techniques and IBA concentrations

Ornamental black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) is used in landscape. Ornamental black mulberry which has high shade, tolerates air pollution and wind. White mulberry (Morus alba L.) is proper for kind of soils conditions. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate the effects of stenting methods and IBA levels on some characters of black mulberry scions onto white mulberry rootstock for the first time. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out as factorial in completely randomized design with 10 replications. Two factors were including two stenting method (splice and omega) and three levels of Indole-3-butyric acid (0, 500 and 1000 mg L-1). Three months after grafting, percentage of rootstock callus formation, percentage of rooting, percentage of leaf formation, number of leaf formation, the longest shoot and the longest root formation were measured. Results showed that the effect of stenting method was significant on all of evaluated parameters and splice method was superior to omega method. Also, the effects of different levels of IBA were significant on all of measured traits and they are increased by increasing the levels of IBA and the best was with 1000 mg L-1. The interaction effects of these factors are significant on all of measured characteristics except for percentage of rootstock callus formation and rooting percentage. In conclusion, the stenting via splice method had higher success in comparison with omega method and the morphological traits increased by increasing the application of higher levels of IBA. The application of stenting method by splice plus 1000 mg L-1 IBA which was carried out for the first time is recommended for reproduction of ornamental black mulberry onto white mulberry

Effects of Silver Nanoparticles (SNP) on Gerbera jamesonii cut flowers

Gerbera vase life is most often terminated by stem bending and breaking or petal wilting. Effects of vase solutions containing 1 mg L silver nanoparticles with or without 6% sucrose on gerbera 'deep purple' vase life, relative fresh weight, relative solution uptake, stem bending or breaking, stem end discolouration and ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks were evaluated. The combination of SNP plus 6% sucrose increased vase life by 8 days compared with the deionised water control. Petal wilting and stem break were decreased by SNP plus 6% sucrose compared to the control. SNP plus 6% sucrose treatment enhanced ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks during vase life. However, there were no obvious adverse effects of this increased ethylene on vase life parameters. Overall, results suggest that 1 mg L SNP plus 6% sucrose has commercial potential as a vase solution for cut gerbera flowers. Copyrigh