JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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Effect of different times and levels of nitrogen fertilizer application on growth and grain yield of spring wheat cultivar “Ghods” was studied during 1993-1994 growing season at Karkadj, Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, using a split plot design with three replications. Main plots were assigned to five levels of N fertilizers (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg/ha) and subplots to five times of applications [all of N fertilizer at planting (T^₀) 1/2 at planting + 1/2 during tillering stage (T₁), 1/2 at planting + 1/2 during heading stage (T₂), 1/3 at planting + 1/3 during tillering and 1/3 at heading stages (T₃) and 1/4 at planting + 1/4 at tillering + 1/4 at stem elongation and 1/4 at heading (T₄)]. Results showed that different levels of N applications affected grain yield and biological yield significantly, while the effect of split application and also N levels × times of application interaction on these two traits were non-significant. Growth stages of wheat were not significantly affected by different N Levels and times of application. Dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, and crop growth rate, in response to growing degree days during growing season, increased when higher levels of N fertilizer were applied. Leaf area index and crop growth rate initially increased up to anthesis and then decreased. Crop growth rate decreased to zero level at soft dough stage and then became negative. Variations in relative growth rate and net assimilation rate, in relation to growing degree days, decreased when different levels of N fertilizer were applied at early part of growing season it was maximum while at later growth stages decreased and finally became negative, Times of N application and level × time interaction during growing season did not affect the growth indices significantly.

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To obtain a suitable explant and efficient culture medium for plant regeneration in spinach, two cultivars of Melody and Karaj local seedlings were chosen. A hypocotyl and cotyledon segments as well as shoot tip explants were dissected from seedlings. The explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with IAA, GA₃, NAA, and BAP and their response to this media was studied. A completely randomized design with different replicates was used to conduct the experiments. Callus was formed at the base of the hypocotyl explants on the medium containing 15 mg.l^-1 IAA, and 3.4 mg.l^-1 GA₃. Calli capable of regeneration was obtained after subculturing on the medium containing 2 mg.l^-1 IAA, and 3.4 mg.l^-1 GA₃ at the rate of 38 percent. The vitrified plantlets were abnormally glassy, and translucent which might have high water content. It was a physiological disorder which was overcome when an improved agar medium raising to 9 gl^-1 was used. Callus has been obtained only from the hypocotyl explants, while regeneration has been obtained from shoot tip cultured on the medium containing 0.02 mgl^-1 BAP at the rate of 80 percent.

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Sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.) is a model dioecious plant in genetic and molecular studies for sex determination. In this research, gus reporter gene transformation to leaf disks of this plant via Agrobacterium tumefaciens was evaluated based on transient expression of this gene. Three strains of Agrobacterium( LBA4404, C58 and EHA101) and two kinds of bacterial suspensions (suspension I: Agrobacterium cells were grown in LB medium with PH 7 and suspension II: the cells were resuspended in MS medium containing 100 mM acetosyringone with PH 5.2) were analyzed in a factorial experiment with 3 replications in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Also, the effects of three different times of pre-culture of explants (0, 2 and 4 days) were examined. Results showed no significant difference among bacterial strains, whereas suspension I and explants without pre-culture had higher efficiency in gene transformation to this plant. Based on the best treatment, stable transformation with different days of cocultivation was carried out and revealed that the 4-day cocultivation is more efficient than the 2-day cocultivation in gene transformation to Sorrel. The histochemical GUS assay and PCR analysis were done on putative transgenic plants. Results showed that some of these plants contain at least one copy of the transferred gene or genes in comparison with control plants .

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In order to study yield component and determinate the contribution of stem reserves to corn yield under effect of different densities and interference periods of sorghum, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in 2002 on the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture Tabriz University. Experimental factors were sorghum interference at different periods (0,14,28,42 days after corn emergence and also during plant life corn) with three densities (4,8,12 plants m-2). Characteristics of study were yield, yield component and the contribution of stem reserves to corn grain yield. The results showed that with increasing sorghum density and interference, corn yield components (except the number of grain rows) were decreased, due to shading and competition between plants for using available resources. Maximum grain yield and grain number per ear was obtained at pure corn plantation. With increasing sorghum density and interference periods grain yield decreased, and maximum corn yield loss was 38%, which occurred at the highest sorghum density and interference. Dry matter remobilization and contribution of stem reserves were significantly influenced by sorghum densities and interferences in corn grain yield. The highest contribution of dry matter remobilization and stem reserves to corn yield was obtained at maximum density and complete interference of sorghum. The least contribution of reserves was shown in pure corn plantation. This might be related to shading and competition between plants for light and other resources.