JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Small honeybee (Apis florea) is one of the common species in Iran. Apis florea lives in southern Iran and plays an important role in the polination of plants in this region. In a series of studies during the years 1997-1998, the genetic populations of the Iranian small honeybee and the effects of geographic and climatic conditions on the morphological variation and separation of Iranian small honeybee were investigated. For this purpose, 400 samples of worker bees from 40 colonies from 26 cities in 9 provinces were collected and twelve morphological characters were measured, using Ruttner method (1978). To determine geographical and climatological variables, average values collected by synoptic stations and other meteorological stations of Iran Meteorological Organization were used. The principal components analysis was used in the statistical analysis of the data obtained. The results show that there exist two distinct groups of small honeybee populations in Iran. Southwest of Iran hosts a class of bigger bees forming one distinct group while southeast of Iran hosts smaller bees forming the second group. Latitude has a positive correlation with size of body, wings and legs. Amount of precipitation has a nagative correlation with size of body, wings and legs. Temperature, wind speed. relative humidity, freezing days and other parameters did not show any correlations with size of body. The results from this research proved that the more northern areas with higher altitudes and more precipitation have bigger honeybees. This finding is in accordance with the Bergman law about other animals.

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Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses in reduce of growth and plants production. Determination of resistance mechanisms to environmental stress in plant improvement is very important. In order to , experiment with osmotic potentials of PEG (zero (control), -4, -8 & -12 bar) and alfalfa genotypes was done. The selected alfalfa genotypes namely, Yazdi(tolerant), Nikshahri(moderate) and Ranger(sensitive) were grown in hydroponic culture. After 4 weeks, they were harvested in order to determination of proline accumulation and Ca⁺², K⁺ and Na⁺ concentration. The data showed with increasing of drought stress, proline accumulation were increased, but its rate was different among genotypes and organelles. Concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ increased with increasing of osmotic stress and there was significant different between genotypes. The K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in the shoots and roots of plant was decreased, when drought stress increased. Morphological and biochemical data showed Yazdi genotype was more tolerant to drought stress in compare with studied genotypes.