Evaluation of Persian Shallot (Allium hirtifolium) Ecotypes for Phytochemical Components and Antioxidant Activity

Phytochemical constituents, such as total phenol, allicin and pyrovic acid as well as antioxidant activity of thirteen ecotypes of Allium hirtifolium Boiss. from different regions of Iran were evaluated. Average contents of total phenol, allicin and pyrovic acid of bulbs extracts per g fresh weight were 0.647 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE), 2.127 mg and 84.412 µmol, respectively and antioxidant activity was 63.717%. The ecotypes that exhibited greater contents of studied phytochemicals consequently possessed higher antioxidant activities. Among the analyzed antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity was present in the greatest quantity (61.501 U mg-1 protein), followed by ascorbate peroxidase (54.182 U mg-1 protein), polyphenol oxidase (46.219 U mg-1 protein), peroxidase (1.972 U mg-1 protein) and catalase (0.49 U mg-1 protein). Correlation analysis showed the accumulation of A. hirtifolium phytochemicals was associated with mean annual temperatures and precipitation. Cluster analysis on phytomedical characters arranged the ecotypes in five groups. The ecotypes of group D presented by Isfahan ecotypes showed the highest pharmaceutical potential which could be considered in future breeding programs. The ecotype groups were not strictly concordant with their bioclimatic or geographic location, so it can be concluded that the genetic factors as well as environmental factors affected the antioxidant capacity of A. hirtifolium ecotypes

Evaluation of the Effect of Maternal Corm and Planting Methods on Flower and Replacement Corms Yield of Two Ecotypes of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) in Tabriz

In order to evaluate and access the best conditions to cultivate saffron in Tabriz, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Tabriz (Khalatpooshan), in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design and three replications. The treatments included two ecotypes of saffron in 4 levels of mother corm weight (3.1- 5, 5.1- 7, 7.1- 9 and more than 9 g) and two planting methods (row and mass).  The results showed that corm weight and planting method had significant effects on the number and weight of replacement corms. But there was no significant effect on the different ecotypes. Among the experimental treatments, corms with 7.1- 9 g weight lead to the highest total corm number (342.65 corm.m-2) and corm yield (892.9 g.m-2) and the yield of flowers and stigma of saffron. It seems that for production of larger replacement corms and increased flowering yield, we need to culture large maternal corms. In addition, we observed the best economical yield that is determined by amount of stigma, in row planting method. The results showed that row planting method leads to a higher amount and yield of replacement corm production in comparison to mass planting method. As a result, producing corms with high weight followed by increasing of flower yield requires the use of large maternal corms for cultivation and row planting method

The Effect of Forchlorfenuron on Bulblet Formation, Antioxidant Characteristics and Phytochemicals Compounds of Persian Shallot (Allium hirtifolium)

Introduction: Allium hirtifolium commonly known as Persian shallot is an important wild medicinal plant from Alliaceae family. Persian shallot commonly known as mooseer in Iran is a perennial diploid plant that is native to Iran and grows as a wild plant throughout in the Zagross Mountains range, western and southwestern Iran. It is a bulbous herb and usually consists of a single main bulb or rarely two bulbs. Each bulb has a weight of about 8-15 times of a garlic clove. The bulbs of mooseer has been widely used as a traditional herb and spice plant, added to a variety of foods such as salads, pickles, yogurt and different sauces. Conventionally, Persian shallot propagates through bulbs and seeds but these two methods are not commercially efficient due to low growth rate of bulbs and deep dormancy, low viability and germination rate of seeds. In addition, the natural habitat of this plant is under increasing pressure as a result of excessive incorrect harvest that caused to damage the plant density in Iran rangelands. So, improving the efficiency of A. hirtifolium propagation is necessary. A number of positive effects on the growth and productivity of some plants through cytokinin application have been registered by earlier research. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of pretreatment and foliar application of forchlorfenuron as a safe cytokinin on improving the bulb production, phytochemical compounds and antioxidant attributes of Persian shallot. Materials and Methods: This experiment was done at research green house of Tabriz University in 2015-2016. For pretreated of Persian shallot bulbs, they were soaked in 0, 50 and 10 mg l-1 forchlorfenuron solutions for 24 h. Then they were cultured in pots contained perlite and vermicompost with 3:1 ratio. Foliar application was applied 2, 4 and 6 weeks after culture with 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg l-1 concentrations of forchlorfenuron. At the end of growth season the number of leaves, number of bublets, fresh and dry weight of bulblet were recorded. The phytochemical compound (protein, phenol and allicin), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidases and superoxide dismutase) and antioxidant activity of bulbs were assayed with spectrophotometry methods. Results and Discussion: Foliar applications of plant growth regulators such as cytokinins in agriculture crops are reported to be useful in controlling multiple physiological processes, including flower initiation, shoot elongation, bulb production, fruit set and as well as affected the quality characters of products. In this study despite the bulblets number that did not influence by treatments, pretreatment and foliar application of forchlorfenuron significantly increased the leaves number, fresh and dry weight of bulbs in comparison with control plants. The highest leaves number (4.49 per plant) was obtained from pretreatments. The highest fresh weight (91.77 g) was recorded at 5 and 10 mg l-1 pretreatment and 100 mg l-1 (91.63 g) foliar application. The interaction effect of treatments on dry weight was significant and the highest dry weight (19.75 g) was recorded at 10 mg l-1 pretreatment with 100 and 150 mg l-1 foliar application. Allicin content did not show significant variation between treatments and in average was 0.859 mg g-1 FW. Total phenol content significantly influenced by treatments and the highest phenol content (1.585 mg GAE g-1 FW) was recorded at 5 mg l-1 pretreatment with 100 mg l-1 foliar application. The antioxidant enzymes included catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase that showed significant increasing under forchlorfenuron treatments. Due to significant effects of forchlorfenuron on antioxidant compounds and enzymes of Persian shallot bulbs, the assay of antioxidant activity also showed a significant increasing in treated bulbs. The maximum percent of antioxidant activity (74.522) was obtained from 100 mg l-1 foliar application. Exogenous application of cytokinins plays an effective role by protecting the fluidity and integrity of plant cell membranes. They properly mediate enzymatic (SOD, APX, and CAT) and non-enzymatic machinery with the result of preventing cell membrane damage by oxidative stress. Conclusions: Considerable improvement in biochemical and antioxidant attributes of Persian shallot was recorded with pretreatment and foliar application of forchlorfenuron. The present data support the potential uses of the forchlorfenuron for improving the production of weighty bulbs with the high antioxidants attributes in Allium hirtifolium. Pretreated and foliar application at 5 mg l-1 and 100 mg l-1 concentrations of forchlorfenuron, respectively showed the best results and is recommendable for A. hirtifolim production

The effectiveness of hot-air, infrared and hybrid drying techniques for lemongrass: appearance acceptability, essential oil yield, and volatile compound preservation

Abstract Lemongrass is a fragrant herb with lengthy, thin leaves that contains myrcene (an aromatic compound) as well as citral and geraniol (antimicrobial compounds). Therefore, identifying an appropriate drying method for this plant is crucial for maintaining aromatic and antimicrobial compounds and enhancing the shelf life of the product. This investigation seeks to assess the influence of various drying tactics involving hot air at temperatures of 40, 50, and 60 °C, infrared radiation at intensities of 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8  $$\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$$ W / cm 2 , sequential hot-air/infrared, as well as simultaneous hot air-infrared, on the drying mechanism, color, appearance, yield, and essential oil constituents of lemongrass leaves, with the objective of enhancing the marketability of the product. The essential oils of lemongrass were extracted through the process of hydro-distillation, and subsequently, the volatile compounds present were analyzed using Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The findings indicated: (a) The most appropriate technique for preserving optimal color quality of lemongrass leaves was through the application of hot air drying solely at a temperature of 60 °C; (b) To optimize the retention and amplification of the essential oil content in lemongrass, our study recommends the employment of a simultaneous hybrid drying technique involving hot air drying at a temperature of 50 °C in conjunction with infrared drying set at a radiation intensity level of 0.6  $$\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$$ W / cm 2 ; and (c) The data analysis demonstrated that in order to achieve elevated levels of volatile compounds, specifically neral and geranial, infrared drying with a radiation intensity of 0.6 and 0.8  $$\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$$ W / cm 2 , respectively, was found to be optimal

Changes in essential oil content of different organs of dill genotypes in response to water deficit

A split plot experiment (based on RCB design) with four replications was conducted in 2014, to evaluate the effects of different irrigation treatments (I1, I2, I3 and I4: irrigation after 70, 100, 130 and 160 mm evaporation, respectively) on essential oil content of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) organs in two genotypes (Local and Mammoth). Irrigation treatments and genotypes were allocated to the main and sub-plots, respectively. Essential oil percentage of dill organs increased, but their essence yield decreased as water deficit severed. Mammoth had the highest essential oil percentage in all organs, but essential oil yield of vegetative organs and flowers of the local genotype was much more than that of mammoth genotype. However, the difference in essence yield of seeds between two genotypes was not significant. The highest essential oil percentage and yield under all irrigation intervals were obtained from seeds, followed by flowers and vegetative organs. It was concluded that seeds and flowers are the most beneficial organs of dill, regarding essential oil production, although dill is largely used as a vegetable

Phytochemical variations antioxidant, and antibacterial activities among zebaria sumac (Rhus coriaria var. zebaria) populations in Iraq

Abstract Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the medicinal plants of Anacardiaceae family and widely used as a spice in Iran and Arab countries. Rhus coriaria var. zebaria is a small tree or large shrub, wildly growing in Iraq and described as a new variety with special characteristics. These increase the importance of studying sumac in these areas. Here, the phytochemical variations and the antibacterial activity of 50 accessions of this variety from five different climatic conditions was evaluated in order to identify the best accession to use and the best area for its cultivation. This is the most comprehensive study on this plant. Essential oil compounds were identified using GC–MS method and according to the results, Z, E-2,13-octadecadien, caryophyllene oxide, 2,4-decadienal, E-caryophyllene and nonanoic acid were among the main compounds. Also, the variety is a rich source of minerals including K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, and N. Sumac fruit extract from Akre Xerds had the highest anthocyanin and the lowest amount was from Kavilca region. The radical scavenging effect of extract from Dostic area in the concentration of 400 µg/mL is closer to the effect of ascorbic acid. The largest inhibition was found in the sumac extracted oil of Xasto Zhere area against S. aureus in compared with penicillin and amoxicillin and enrofloxacin antibiotics