Nitrogen Deposition in the Greater Tehran Metropolitan Area

An investigation of air pollution in the Tehran metropolitan area between 1992–2000 indicated that there are significant amounts of nitrate ion (NO3–), over 30 kg/ha/year, deposited as wet deposition, compared to 13 kg/ha/year in the Chitgar Parkland near the Tehran metropolitan area. The amount of NO3– in warm seasons is twofold that of cold seasons (see Fig. 1), and there was a significant difference between cold and warm seasons (Table 1). Annual wet deposition of ammonia (NH3) was 10 kg/ha/year in the Chitgar Parkland[1]

Prediction of BOD, COD, and Total Nitrogen Concentrations in a Typical Urban River Using a Fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrix with PARAFAC and UV Absorption Indices

The development of a real-time monitoring tool for the estimation of water quality is essential for efficient management of river pollution in urban areas. The Gap River in Korea is a typical urban river, which is affected by the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and various anthropogenic activities. In this study, fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEM) with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and UV absorption values at 220 nm and 254 nm were applied to evaluate the estimation capabilities for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of the river samples. Three components were successfully identified by the PARAFAC modeling from the fluorescence EEM data, in which each fluorophore group represents microbial humic-like (C1), terrestrial humic-like organic substances (C2), and protein-like organic substances (C3), and UV absorption indices (UV220 and UV254), and the score values of the three PARAFAC components were selected as the estimation parameters for the nitrogen and the organic pollution of the river samples. Among the selected indices, UV220, C3 and C1 exhibited the highest correlation coefficients with BOD, COD, and TN concentrations, respectively. Multiple regression analysis using UV220 and C3 demonstrated the enhancement of the prediction capability for TN

Comparison between natural and cultivated forests of Haloxylon sp. with respect to some ecological factors

The aim of the study was to investigate some of the ecological factors at natural and planted forests of Haloxylon sp., including climate, soil, accompanied vegetation cover, pest, disease and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus. For this reason, two districts and 16 sites were selected randomly at Yazd province of Iran, including both the natural and the planted forests. Although the ecological condition of the natural forests was less favourable than the planted forests, but the high growth and longevity of the natural forests are effective and positive indicators at such district which can not be observed at the another district. Natural equilibrium between trees density and site potential and productivity, distribution of Haloxylon trees at various soil textures and salinity rates, few contaminated Haloxylon trees to pests and diseases high diversity of the accompanied vegetation and high diversity and density of the symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, are the characteristics of the narual forest of Haloxylon in comparison to the planted forests at Yazd province

The role of total proteins, peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases in metabolismes of Juniperus spp.

In this study, role of total proteins, peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases in metabolisms of juniper were studied. For this purpose, seasonal alteration (quantitative and qualitative) of total proteins, peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases from branches, leaves, male cone and bery were analysed by electrophoresis and spectrophotometric methods in male, female and male-female plants. Results indicated that in spite of specific differences in each stand, activity pattern of enzymes were similar. The highest activity of peroxidases from leaves and branches were seen in spring and autumn and the lowest activity were in summer and winter. Protein, peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases rates of male cone decreased in winter. Comparision of peroxidases with polyphenoloxidases activity during female maturity indicated that maximum activity of polyphenoloxidases was in the first stage growth and minimum activity of peroxidase was in second stage growth. This results indicated this enzymes involves in juniper metabolismes such as, growth and development, photosynthesis, hormonal balance, organogenesis, morphogenesis and resistance to environmental conditions

lnvestigation of the metabolic development in Fraxinus exelsior seeds by using of enzymes and cations variation.

This research was done at two different altitude level of two northern provinces (Gilan & Mazandaran). The altitude levels  for Mazandaran province were 80 and 1100 meter above sea level (coastal, low, moderate and high level, respectively). After studying the environmental parameters and writing down their data, the individual trees of Fraxinus excelsior at each sample plot were selected. The environmental studies and their ecological factors indicated that the most of Fraxinus excelsior seeds were hallow due to destroying of natural forest ecosystems. Natural regeneration was not found because of overgrazing by livestacks. Sampling was done from male and female from flower sprouting to seed ripening stages, monthly. The investigation was carried out for 3 consecutive years (1996-1998). The samples were extracted then qualitative and quantitative alterations of proteins and enzyme (peroxidase) were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. Alterations of Na+ , Ca2+ .K+ were measured by flamephotometric method.  Results indicated qualitative and quantitative alterations of proteins, enzyme and peroxidase isoenzymes during sampling. Sprouts had the minimum izoenzymatic bands, peroxidase activity and protein content. During the Thir and Mordad months proteins and peroxidase activity were maximum qualitatively and quantitatively. In rippened seeds peroxidase activity was minimum and izoenzymes were high molecular weight ones. The number of izoenzymes were minimum at that time. Quantitative alteration of proteins was almost similar to the peroxidase alteration. During seed development contents of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ changed regularly. Alteration of sodium was more than K+ and Ca2+. This indicated that this element had an important role in the metabolic development of Fraxinus exelsiorseeds. Germination of seeds were studied under different condition such as seasonal sampling (beging and end of Shahrivar and Mehr months), storage at -8 and +4 centigrade degree for 15 days and nutrional treatment (distilled water and hydrogen peroxide). The best treatments were sampling at the end of Shahrivar( before seed color change), storageat -8 centigrade degree for 15 days and hydrogen peroxide treatment. Percent of germination increased from 0 (in control) to %100 in treated seeds

Identification and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis with Juniperus excelsa

Mycorrhiza is one of the most common symbiosis between vascular plants and microorganisms. Mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in life cycle of plants by increasing their ability to absorb water and nutrients, excreting plant hormones and protecting the host plants against pathogens. The identified mycorrhizal fungi are used to inoculate on poor soils. Eight juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Beib) trees were selected at their natural habitat in Karaj valley of Iran in order to start the investigation. Root and soil were sampled from each tree for two years in two seasons (autumn and spring). After staining roots, the mycorrhizal organs such as hyphae, arbuscles and vesicles were observed. The AM fungi were identified, using Morton and Trappe keys and INVAM site information. Two genus and two species of mycorrhizal fungi were identified, including Glomus sp., Glomus multicaule, Acaulospora sp. and Glomus fasciculatum. The species Glomus multicaule had the greatest abundance in all of the soil samples and in both seasons

Changes in the activity of amylase, peroxidase and catalase in beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) during dormancy and growth

Activities of peroxidase, amylase and catalase were analyzed on beech (Fagusorientalis Lipsky) during one year to determine relationship between these enzymes with the period of dormancy and growing season. Results showed that amylase activity was high but catalase and peroxidase activities were low during the growing season. Peroxidase and catalase activities increased from July to November whereas amylase activity started to decrease at the same time, which means that the plants were prepared themselves to be dormant and the hardening was happened. The peroxidase maximum activity was in November, which is an important sign of dormancy and completing hardening in plant. The dormancy released from February along with decrease of catalase activity. At the beginning of growing season, correlation between amylase and catalase was increased. Amylase activity also increased gradually. No significant correlation between amylase-catalase and amylase-peroxidase activities was found at the period of dormancy. In our study, we found that the seasonal activity of enzymes such as peroxidase, catalase, and amylase, also correlation between these enzymes could be an important factor for the detection the period of dormancy and growing season

Seasonal changes of non-structural carbohydrates and amylase in twigs of Quercus brantii var. persica (Jaub. & Spach) Zohary

Quercus brantii var. persica (oak manna tree) is a valuable tree species in forests of western Iran. This species has been adapted to rough conditions of its habitat such as extreme summer and winter, long drought period and high elevation. For determining physiological patterns and alteration related to the establishment of oak in this environment, the changes of total non- structural carbohydrates and amylase activity in oak trees were studied in a less manipulated habitat during an annual cycle. The amount of total non- structural carbohydrates and amylase activity were measured by enzymatic and electrophoresis (PAGE) methods. Results indicated that non- structural carbohydrates concentration (glucose, fructose and sucrose) in March (before bud burst) was more than January ones. After bud burst and leaf expansion, when photosynthetic activity was high and after the beginning of drought period the concentrations of glucose and fructose increased continuously to September. Contrariwise the amount of sucrose and starch decreased slowly during this period. After summer and with falling temperatures, the total non-structural carbohydrates increased in November. In January, the content of starch was very low but the level of soluble carbohydrates was high. Thus the energy supply for metabolic processes in trees is secured during cold and hard winter seasons. Total non-structural carbohydrates ranged from 18.5 to 37.25 mg gdm-1. Seasonal changes of α-amylases coincided considerably with changes of starch and glucose concentrations of oak manna trees during the investigation period

Genetic variation of mangrove species Avicennia marina in Iran revealed by microsatellite markers

Mangroves play an essential role in ecosystem dynamics but are reported to be regressing as human pressure increases on coastal zones. In order to ensure conservation of mangroves, genetic diversity in remaining population must be explored. Since Avicennia marina is an environmentally susceptible species, such studies including examination of its genetic variation is done in a worldwide range.During the present study the level of genetic variation of mangrove trees (A. marina) in three coastlines of Bushehr province (Southwest regions of Iran) was examined using microsatellite markers. Threemicrosatellite loci which were applied in the last large-scale study, detected high levels of allelic diversity here (14 alleles in total), essential for an accurate estimation of population genetic parameters.The levels of heterozygosity detected for each population, over all loci, ranged from 0.451 to 0.667 with an average of 0.589, indicating relatively appropriate level of genetic variation. The expectedheterozygosity was larger than the observed heterozygosity leading to positive inbreeding coefficients in all three populations. Highly significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium were detectedin populations. Reduced level of genetic variation was found in the central population indicating strong genetic structure among the other populations with larger area and less exploitation