JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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The significance of haploid plants as genetic and plant breeding tools has been recognized for a long time. Haploid production techniques including anther culture, isolated microspore culture and intergeneric hybridization between wheat × Hordeum bulbosum and wheat × maize have been used to produce homozygous lines which accelerate breeding programs. In this study, wheat × maize hybridization and anther culture techniques were used for haploid production in six wheat genotypes. The results showed that 70.7% of regenerated plants through anther culture were albino plants and only 29.2 % were green, while the plants produced through wheat × maize method were all green. Ploidy variation was not observed in plants regenerated through wheat × maize hybridization. It was concluded that wheat × maize crosses would be an appropriate and practical method for haploid production in different wheat genotypes, which in comparison with the anther culture method has a higher efficiency.

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One of the applications of Non-Parametric methods is determination of genotypes rank in different environments, which is also used as a measuring stability. A stable genotype shows similar ranks across different environments and has minimum rank variance in different environments. Non-Parametric Stability Statistics require no statistical assumptions about the distribution of the phenotypic values and are easy to use. This study was carried out to determine the ranks of 10 Lentil genotypes (Lens culinaris Medikus) across ten environments in 2002-2004, using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Analysis of Thennarasu non-parametric statistics showed that genotypes 8 and 9 had high stability by NP₍₁₎ statistic and genotypes 9, 8 and 1 had stable yield in NP₍₂₎ method. Result of the NP₍₃₎ statistic was similar to NP₍₁₎ statistic. NP₍₄₎ statistic selected genotypes 9 and 1 as the most stable genotypes and ultimately NP₍₅₎ statistic introduced 9 and 1 genotypes as stable genotypes in this experiment. Also analysis of Nassar and Huhn non-parametric statistics revealed that genotypes 1 and 2 were most stable and well adapted across ten environments. In addition, it was concluded that plots obtained by both mean yield (kg ha-1) vs.S_i⁽¹⁾ and mean yield (kg ha-1) vs. S_i⁽²⁾ values could enhance visual efficiency of selection based on genotype × environment interaction. According to these configurations, genotypes in section 1 can be considered as stable and well adapted to all environments, having general adaptable ability. For recognition a daptability,S_i⁽¹⁾ and  S_i⁽²⁾ take preferred over other non-parametric statistics.

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Resveratrol (5,3,4'- trihyroxystilbene) is a valuable polyphenolic compound which prevents cancer, heart and vascular diseases in human. In this research, the compound was extracted from leaf and fruit tissues of two Iranian grape cultivars (Rajabie Sefide Shiraz and Keshmeshie Ghermez) using a general extraction method with some modification, and analyzed quantitatively by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Resveratrol content in leaf and fruit of Rajabie Sefide Shiraz cultivar was higher than Keshmeshie Ghermez and its amount in the fruits of both cultivars was observed to be greater than their leaves. The accumulation of Resveratrol at the early stage of fruit growth (4 weeks after full bloom) was higher than the subsequent stages of fruit growth and development (8 weeks after full bloom and ripened fruit) in both cultivars. This compound gradually decreased from the beginning of fruit set to the complete stage of growth and development and reached the lowest level when the fruits were ripe. Leaves and fruits of both cultivars were treated with methyl jasmonate (1 mM), then the rate of resveratrol was measured after treatments. It was observed that the amount of this compound was significantly increased in treated samples when compared with the control however, the difference diminished later. The fruits of both cultivars responded better to the treatments 4 weeks after full bloom.

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Every year river flooding causes serious damage to the bridges at the time needed most. One of the most effective factors causing bridge failure is scouring around the piers in a river bend. One of the methods to decrease scouring around the bridge piers is fitting them with a coller on the piers. The collars protect the river bed against vortex flow in the vicinity of the pier base. An experiment was conducted to study lab flumes made of Plaxiglass with a 180 degree bend and 2.8 m central radius and a 0.6 m width. In this study, a 6cm diameter pier was placed with a circular collar with four different collar sizes in one position in bend with constant discharge and depth under clear-water conditions. The collar was placed at four different elevations. The soil material had a diameter of d50 = 2mm and geometric standard deviation of σg = 1.3. The results of the model study indicated that the maximum depth scouring was highly dependent on the experimental duration. It was observed that as the size of a collar plate increases, the scour decreases. So, minimum depth of scour is dependent on the 3D coller and -0.1D elevation. Circular collar results in maximum reduction in scour depth (93%) compared with no circular collar.

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Atmospheric dust is an important source of heavy metals, particularly in urban environments. Heavy metals can easily attach to dust particles and be distributed in large areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the status of major heavy metals in the atmospheric dust of Isfahan and adjacent cities. A total of 144 dust samples were taken during a period from August to December 2010 from Isfahan, Khomeynishahr, Falavarjan, Mobarake and Zarinshahr cities. Dust samples were extracted with HNO3 65% and the total concentration of metals including Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr and Mn in the samples was measured by an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentration of these metals was 223.5, 470.3, 3.5, 71.0, 82.0, 26.5, 24.4 and 426.3 mg kg-1, respectively. Results indicated that heavy metals concentration in any area was different depending on the source of pollution and it was much higher than the mean concentration of the corresponding heavy metal in soils. Besides, the highest deposition rate of all the heavy metals in this study was found in November-December period. This could be attributed to an increase in the use of heating systems and also to a temperature inversion event prevailed in the area. Atmospheric deposition seems to be an important pathway of heavy metals addition to soils. For example, it is responsible for 35-91% and 12-47% of Pb and Cd entering the soil in the area, respectively.

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This study aimed to evaluate the performance of TM satellite data acquired in June 2009 to map soil salinity in southeast of Isfahan province. Ground salinity data (EC) was collected within 9 pixels, covering an area of approximately 8100 m2 using stratified random sampling technique at 53 sample sites. Spectral indices including TM bands, BI, SI1, SI2 and SI3, PC1, PC2, PC3 and also multiple linear regression modeling and maximum likelihood classification techniques were applied to the geometrically corrected image. Results of regression analysis showed that the TM band 4 had the strongest relationship with EC data (R2=0.48) and also the relationship of the modeling image using TM 3, TM 4, TM5 and PC3 was significant at the 99% confidence level. The accuracy assessment of the stratified TM4 and modeling image into five classes including 0-4, 4-20, 20-60, 60-100 and EC>100 ds/m indicated that there was more than 86% agreement with the field measurements of EC data. Therefore, it can be concluded that the discretely classified salinity maps have higher accuracy than regression methods for identifying broad areas of saline soils, and can be used as appropriate tools to manage and combat soil salinization.

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Potassium (K) is an important cation in saline soils of arid lands, and its content, distribution and availability may be affected by native plants. To study the effect of halophyte species on different K forms in Korsia region located in western Darab (Fars province), three dominant halophyte species including Juncus gerardi, Halocnemum strobilaceum, and Salsola rigida were selected. Sampling was done from soils in canopy and between plants at the depth of 0-15 (surface) and 15-30 cm (subsurface) in triplicate. Soil physical and chemical properties including soil texture, organic matter, calcium carbonate, pH, cation exchange capacity, saturation percentage and electrical conductivity and different K forms including soluble, exchangeable and non-exchangeable were determined. Results indicated that organic matter, CEC, pH, and EC were affected by plant species. Juncus gerardi increased exchangeable K and decreased soluble K, but it had no effect on non-exchangeable and HNO3-extractable K. Halocnemum strobilaceum significantly increased soluble, exchangeable and HNO3-extractable K in surface and subsurface soils rather than soils between plants. This finding may be due to K uptake by plants from subsoils and also transfer of soluble K from soils between plants to roots. Salsola rigida had no effect on K status. Generally, soils between plants had more soluble and exchangeable K in surface than subsurface horizon. The studied halophyte species showed differences in growth and development pattern, soluble salts and K absorption and secretion, grazing by livestock, returned organic matter to soil, soluble salts and K reserves in their organs, and water uptake and thereby water and K diffusion from soil far from rhizosphere to roots, which may have different effects on K distribution in soils. Juncus gerardi, as regards effects on decreasing salinity and soluble K and increasing exchangeable K, may be recommended as a suitable species for remediation of the studied soils.

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