Investigating the effects of Islamic banking contracts on economic growth of Iran

This paper has aimed to investigate the effects of Islamic banking loans thereby different contracts which are permitted by sharia on GDP of Iran during (2000 to 2010) with seasonal data. In this research for estimating the function of long run relation, we use ARDL1 and VAR2 approach .Result in the former case reveals that there is a meaningful and positive effect of contracts on GDP. It also shows that the Qard Hasan (beneficence loans) elasticity of GDP is significantly different from other contracts. As in long run Qard Hasanhas the most effect on GDP afterward participating contracts and direct investment (financing) and finally trading contracts has the least effect on GDP.While in the latter case results show that the impacts of a permanent shock to the growth rate of loans on economic growth are or so positive for all contracts. And that shock will be wasted after ten periods (seasons). The impact of structural shock to the loan on liquidity is positive but decreasing. According to the results we can declare that an increment in participating contracts and Qard Hasan would enhance the GDP and influence it positively. If we decrease the dependency of trading contracts and increase the participating contracts and Qard Hasan, economic growth won't necessarily decrease

ENRICHMENT OF CASING SOIL WITH FE AND SOY-FLOUR UNDER Pseudomonas INOCULATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BUTTON MUSHROOM

Effects of casing soil enrichment with soybean flour (SF) and iron (Fe) were explored on yield and quality of edible mushrooms inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria in a factorial experiment with four replications. Fe from Fe chelate source was applied at two levels of 0 (Fe0) and 500 mg L-1 (Fe500), SF at three levels of 0% (SF0), 1.5% (SF1.5), and 3% (SF3) of compost dry weight, and bacteria inoculation at two levels (non-inoculation and inoculation of mycelia with P. putida). The maximum fresh yield (20.3 kg m-2), mushroom number (1041), biological efficiency (95.0%), vitamin C (3.74 mg 100 g-1 FW), and yield of protein (6.48 kg m-2) were obtained from SF1.5 + P. putida. But, the maximum tryptophan (1.37 mg g-1 DW), methionine (2.29 mg g-1 DW), and antioxidant capacity (4.25 mg mL-1) were related to SF3 inoculated with P. putida. Furthermore, the maximum carbohydrate (5.64%) was related to Fe500 + SF3. Based on the results, casing soil enrichment with Fe did not have a significant influence on quantitative and qualitative traits of mushrooms, but SF application at the rate of 1.5%, especially when accompanied by P. putida, played a more essential role. Thus, it is recommended to use 1.5% SF along with P. putida to enhance the yield and qualitative traits of edible mushrooms

Ethylene and Anti-Ethylene Treatment Effects on Cut "First Red" Rose

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of ethylene and anti-ethylene treatments on postharvest life of cut "First Red" rose flowers. Effects of exogenous ethylene at 1, 10 and 100 ul l-1 for 48 h at 22 C on cut "First Red" rose flowers were investigated. Ethylene at different concentrations reduced postharvest life, with 100 ul l-1 having the greatest effect. Ethylene production measurements suggested that "First Red" rose is climacteric during senescence. Pre-treatment of "First Red" rose flowers with 0.5 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) for 2 h at 22 C increased vase life, but pre-treatment with 1 ul l-1 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) did not. Pre-treatment of "First Red" rose with 0.5 mM STS and, to a lesser extent, 1 ul l-1 1-MCP for 2 h at 22 C, protected flowers from subsequent exposure to 10 ul l-1 ethylene. Maximum vase life in both ethylene-treated and non-ethylene-treated "First Red" rose flowers was obtained with 0.5 mM STS

ENRICHMENT OF CASING SOIL WITH FE AND SOY-FLOUR UNDER Pseudomonas INOCULATION ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BUTTON MUSHROOM

Effects of casing soil enrichment with soybean flour (SF) and iron (Fe) were explored on yield and quality of edible mushrooms inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria in a factorial experiment with four replications. Fe from Fe chelate source was applied at two levels of 0 (Fe0) and 500 mg L-1 (Fe500), SF at three levels of 0% (SF0), 1.5% (SF1.5), and 3% (SF3) of compost dry weight, and bacteria inoculation at two levels (non-inoculation and inoculation of mycelia with P. putida). The maximum fresh yield (20.3 kg m-2), mushroom number (1041), biological efficiency (95.0%), vitamin C (3.74 mg 100 g-1 FW), and yield of protein (6.48 kg m-2) were obtained from SF1.5 + P. putida. But, the maximum tryptophan (1.37 mg g-1 DW), methionine (2.29 mg g-1 DW), and antioxidant capacity (4.25 mg mL-1) were related to SF3 inoculated with P. putida. Furthermore, the maximum carbohydrate (5.64%) was related to Fe500 + SF3. Based on the results, casing soil enrichment with Fe did not have a significant influence on quantitative and qualitative traits of mushrooms, but SF application at the rate of 1.5%, especially when accompanied by P. putida, played a more essential role. Thus, it is recommended to use 1.5% SF along with P. putida to enhance the yield and qualitative traits of edible mushrooms

Improving the Keeping Quality and Vase Life of Cut Alstroemeria Flowers by Pre and Post-harvest Salicylic Acid Treatments

Keeping quality and length of vase life are important factors for evaluation of cut flowers quality, for both domestic and export markets. Studding the effect of pre- and post-harvest salicylic acid applications on keeping quality and vase life of cut alstroemeria flowers during vase period is the approach taken. Aqueous solutions of salicylic acid at 0.0 (with distilled water), 1, 2 and 3 mM were sprayed to run-off (approximately 500 mL per plant), about two weeks before flowers harvest. The cut flowers were harvested in the early morning and both of cut flowers treated (sprayed) and untreated were kept in vase solutions containing salicylic acid at 0.0 (with distilled water), 1, 2 and 3 mM. Sucrose at 4% was added to all treatments as a base solution. The changes in relative fresh weight, water uptake, water loss, water balance, total chlorophyll content and vase life were estimated during vase period. The results showed that the relative fresh weight, water uptake, water balance, total chlorophyll content and vase life decreased significantly while the water loss increased significantly during experiment for all treatments. A significant difference between salicylic acid and control treatments in all measured parameters is observed. During vase period, the salicylic acid treatments maintained significantly a more favourable relative fresh weight, water uptake, water balance, total chlorophyll content and supressed significantly water loss, as compared to control treatment. Also, the results showed that the using salicylic acid increased significantly the vase life cut alstroemeria flowers, over control. The highest values of measured parameters were found when plants were treated by pre + post-harvest application of salicylic acid at 3 mM. The result revealed that the quality attributes and vase life of cut alstroemeria flowers were improved by the use of salicylic acid treatment

Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Malus domestica fruit extract from Kashan area

Objective: Antioxidants are considered as the main factors in the inhibition of unwanted oxidation reactions. Materials and Methods: In this research the antioxidant potential of the fresh fruits of 4 cultivars (A to D) of Malus domestica (M. domestica) cultivated in the Kashan, Qamsar area was evaluated. The antioxidant activity of the samples were evaluated using two complementary antioxidant assays: 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests and the results were compared with the synthetic standard antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Results: Total phenolic contents of the samples are also estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol test. In both DPPH β-carotene/linoleic acid tests in the concentration of 2 mg/ml, only samples from cultivar A showed moderate antioxidant activity with 63.92±0.42 and 6.02±0.03 inhibition percentages, respectively and other samples were weakly active. Conclusion: The Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol test was also showed very little phenolic compounds for the fruits. In conclusion, weak antioxidant activity was estimated for the studied apple cultivars

Reconsideration in using citric acid as vase solution preservative for cut rose flowers

Abstract: The major cause of vase life reduction in cut flowers is water relation interruption which is mostly due to vase solution microbial proliferation and consequently vascular occlusion resulting in solution uptake reduction. In order to reduce vase solution microbial count, most preservatives incorporate acidifying agents mostly citric acid. Beside microbial proliferation control, biocides could affect cut flower's quality and physiology in various aspects. In order to study the biocidal effect of citric acid, 'Cherry Brandy' roses were treated in a completely randomized design with: citric acid (300, 600 and 900 mg/L, respectively) or sterilized distilled water (control). Effects of citric acid application as vase solution biocide and its impact on vase life, water relation, vase solution microbial kind and population beside different physiological parameters such as chlorophyll degradation, chlorophyll fluorescence and membrane permeability were investigated during this study. Results indicated that citric acid increased vase life (although insignificantly) and amazingly its' application resulted in better fresh appearance during last days of vase life. Although microbial control was not desirable, but it was achieved to some extent by citric acid application. Citric acid resulted in higher fresh weight increment. But fresh weight was lost more rapidly compared to control. This was while citric acid treated flowers had lower solution up take at most stages of vase life. Five different micro-organisms were observed in citric acid vase solutions which were: 2 strains of Fusarium solani and three isolates of Bacillus, Coccus and Streptomyces sp. Ion leakage trend showed a steady increase during vase life and was significantly increased by citric acid application during the last days of vase life as membrane permeability and vase life decrease. Citric acid significantly increased leaf chlorophyll content of treated flowers while it resulted in chlorophyll fluorescence reduction during vase life