JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

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In order to diagnose form species of Bipolaris involving root and crown rot of wheat plants and determine their distribution, frequency and disease severity, 410 wheat fields (W. Fs.) in different regions of Kermanshah province were sampled at seedling, tillering and heading stages during three crop years (1997– 2000). Also 90 W. Fs. (30 per year) in different regions of the province were chosen randomly to estimate percentage of infected wheat plants. For the isolation of the fungi from tissues of root, subcrown internodes, crown and foot, the tissues were surface sterilized and placed on culture media. The results showed that there were some root and crown rots in the most regions of the province and the percentage of diseased plants was 0-24%, whose average was 3.2%. Forty three isolates belonging to form genus Bipolaris were isolated including form species B. sorokinina, B. cynodontis and B. spicifera. All three form species were pathogenic under greenhouse conditions. Disease severity and frequency of B. sorokinina were more than the others. Disease severity of B. cynodontis and B. spicifera was the same and their differences compared with the control were significant.

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‏ In this research the effects of two common cooking processes of foods, namely, autoclave and extrusion cooking on the molecular and physicochemical properties of wheat starch were investigated. The results showed that the solubility of the autoclaved samples increased with increasing the temperature while their relative viscosity decreased. These findings indicated that the molecular degradation of starch could occur during autoclave cooking. Moreover, constant sedimentation coefficient (s-value) of amylose and decreasing the s-value of amylopectin with increasing the temperature further confirmed degradation of amylopectin in particular. The results of the extruded samples showed that reduction in water content may increase the shear and pressure produced during extrusion cooking, which in turn could cause several changes in starch properties including degradation of starch granules, formation of amylose-lipid complex and degradation of amylopectin (as determined by reduction of the s-values). Also, reduction in water content could increase the puffiness of the final products and reduce the cold-water and final viscosities of the extruded samples. These observations may indicate the importance of the molecular studies of starch for better interpretation of physical changes of the final products.

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24 Holstein cows and 16 Holstein heifers in close-up period were used to evaluate the effects of ground wheat grain in prepartum diets on health and performance of dairy cows. Cows were blocked based on parity (three groups) and then randomly assigned to two experimental diets. Study rations included a treatment containing wheat with 1.62Mcal/kg NEL, 14.8%CP, 42.1%NFC, and –64meq/Kg DCAD and another treatment was composed of barley and wheat bran with 1.59Mcal/kg NEL, 14.8%CP, 38.2%NFC, and –48meq/Kg DCAD. Cows were fed experimental diets in group, on average 24%4 days prior to parturition, and they were fed the same ration up to day 21 postpartum. Average feed intake prior to confining, milk yield and composition, blood metabolites, feeding and chewing activity, urine and feces pH, placenta weight and time of its omitted, pregnancy duration, parturition status, body weight and BCS, and metabolic disorders were evaluated in this research. Average feed intake for wheat treatment was more than barley and wheat bran treatment (11.56 in contrast to 10.74, Kg DM), but it was not statistically significant. Milk production in wheat treatment had no significant increase. Milk fat yield in wheat treatment had a higher value compared to barley and wheat bran treatment (P<0.025). Blood calcium in wheat treatment was significantly higher (P<0.005), and blood glucose in wheat treatment was significantly higher than barley and wheat bran treatment (P<0.011). Changes in body weight and BCS, pregnancy duration and parturition status were not significantly different between treatments. Urine pH in wheat treatment had a significant decrease in the last week prior to parturition (P< 0.003).

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This study was conducted to assess the effect of culturing oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) on the nutritive value of wheat straw. In a completely randomized design, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of untreated and fungal treated wheat straw were measured by the following treatments: 1) untreated wheat straw (UWS) 2) fermented wheat straw before mushroom fruiting (FTWS) and 3) fermented wheat straw after mushroom harvesting (SPWS), with 4 replicates. In addition, the in vivo digestibility and voluntary intake were determined using 4 cows and 4 sheep and nutritive value index was estimated. The crude protein and in vitro digestibility increased whereas organic matter and cell wall components decreased significantly (P<0.05) in FTWS and SPWS. In vivo digestibility and voluntary intake increased in FTWS when fed to sheep or cow (P<0.05) but no significant differences were found between SPWS and UWS. The digestible dry mater and organic mater intake (g/kg W0.75) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in cow than sheep. The significantly (P<0.05) highest amount of nutritive value index was obtained for FTWS fed to cow and the lowest amount was found for SPWS when fed to sheep. It can be concluded that culturing Pleurotus florida on wheat straw can improve its nutritive value before mushroom fruiting .

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Genetic maps with high genome coverage are becoming increasingly useful in both basic and applied genetic researches. In the last decades, the advent of DNA markers has brought about a magnificent revolution in the production of genetic map, especially in wheat. In the present study, AFLP markers were used to saturate linkage map of 107 doubled haploid individuals produced through Fukuho _Komugi × Oligo – Culm crosses received from Japan International Research Center of Agricultural Science (JIRCAS). The framework of genetic map was used as base map for next analysis. AFLP analysis was performed with MseI / PstI as digestive enzymes. The average percentage of polymorphism with AFLP markers was around 16.6%. Data analysis was performed by computer program known as Mapmaker / EXP, Ver. 3.3. In this program, the maximum distance criterion was 50 cM and the minimum LOD equated 3. The drawing of chromosome schema for the linkage groups was performed by Draw map, Ver 1.1. In this analysis, 115 AFLP markers were divided into 10 groups in addition, some of the markers remained unlinked. The supplementary data analysis along with specific SSR markers identified the chromosome loci of the markers. Ultimately, 71.1% of the markers were assigned to genome A, 16.5% to genome B and only 3% to genome D. The AFLP markers filled 11 gaps in 7 chromosomes (2A, 3A, 7A, 2B, 3B, 5B and 7B). The low coverage of genome D was due to the limited polymorphism and its conservation in different populations. Among the chromosomes, maximum number of markers (60) was assigned to the chromosome 7A. The distribution of the markers on this chromosome was not uniform. Such a distribution was related to the grouping AFLP markers within heterochromatin region, particularly around the centromere.

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Remote sensing science and satellite data are widely used by researchers for agricultural studies. Vegetation spectral reflections recorded by satellite sensors have been used extensively for identifying plant types, plant cover, health community of plants and predicting yield. The TERRA satellite, with 5 sensors, provides an opportunity to observe land, atmosphere and ocean characteristics. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is on–board TERRA satellite. This sensor with 36 bands by 250m, 500m, and 1000m spatial resolution help us to study our environment. The MODIS vegetation indices are used to monitor photosynthetic activity radiation, change detection in plant communities, planted area estimation and plant health. A statistical analysis was done to analyze Near Infra Red (NIR) (841-876 nm) and Red (R) (620-670 nm) bands of MODIS images for a 16 day period. The images have been used for winter wheat in Mashhad (North East of IRAN) during agricultural season of 2004-05.Some image processing techniques were used to extract the related digital numbers (DN), showing the electromagnetic spectrum reflection for all of the pixels. The analysis shows a positive correlation between R and NIR spectrum (0.70 and 0.69) and decrease in NDVI (0.18 and 0.24) in the first and late wheat growth season. However, there is not such a good correlation in the middle of the season and NDVI increased very much. In spite of having wheat cover in the field, NIR reflection decreased very much in the late wheat growth season (0.5). Therefore the correlation relation between R and NIR band along with NDVI could be used effectively in precision agriculture management such as predicting of phonological stage, wheat yield estimation and wheat health condition.

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To improve a complex character such as yield with low heritability, the use of indirect selection through other characters and a selection index based on different effective traits is recommended. This study was conducted to evaluate different selection methods by using 23 F2:4 wheat lines derived from the cross of Virmarin (susceptible cultivar) and Sardari (tolerant cultivar) at Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used in two irrigation treatments (i.e. irrigation after 70±3 and 120±3 mm evaporation from class A pan). For each irrigation treatment, different selection indices were constructed based on the number of spike per m², days to heading, number of grain per spike and 1000 – kernel weight. Also direct and correlated responses were calculated for these traits. The results of the response to selection and correlated response indicated that in the same conditions of this study, early heading cultivars with high number of spikes and low number of grain per spike with high 1000-kernel weight will have more yield potential. Number of spike per m² and 1000-kernel weight exhibited positive response in most of the indices and both irrigation treatments, while days to heading and number of grain per spike revealed negative responses. Thus selection based on these indices would result in early heading cultivars with high spike per m2, low number of grain per spike and high 1000–kernel weight. It was also found that Smith-Hazel and Brim-Williams indices had the highest efficiencies.

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The genetic diversity of major crops, including durum wheat, has suffered an overall reduction with time. The knowledge of patterns of genetic diversity enhances the efficiency of germplasm conservation and improvement. In this study, 87 Iranian landraces of Triticum turgidum var. durum originating from different geographical areas of Iran, along with 21 durum cultivars from ten countries were evaluated using ten primer combination SSAP markers. Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that transpose via RNA mediation. They have wide distributions in genome because molecular markers have been designed based on them in recent years. SSAP markers BARE-1,Thv19, Tagermina and Tar1 were also used. Thv19M+ACA primer combination had the most polymorphic band in both landraces and cultivar durum wheats. Approximately 26.7 % BARE-1 bands were polymorphic in landraces.Thv19 showed a polymorphism level of 51.5%, and Tar1 and Tagermina displayed polymorphism levels of 32.8% and 27.2%, respectively. The amount of polymorphism in the studied cultivars for retrotransposons BARE1, Tagermina, Thv19 and Tar1 were 24.4%, 24.3%, 51.5%, 28.5%, respectively. This results show that Thv19 and Tar1 have more transpositional activity in the evolutionary process. Finally, Dendrogram was constructed to use algorithm UPGMA and Dice similarity coefficients.

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Water deficit, ultraviolet radiation and CO₂ concentration enhancement are three environmental stresses that affect nutrition of human in future. This research was conducted in the Research Greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in 2006, in order to study leaf qualitative traits of durum wheat under different levels of carbon dioxide (400 and 900 ppm), ultraviolet radiation (UV A, B and C) and water deficit (up to %60 of field capacity). Ultraviolet radiation enhancement increased anthocyanin, flavenoids and carotenoids of durum wheat leaf. There was no significant interaction effect between carbon dioxide and water deficit on anthocyanin and carbohydrates. Also, the interaction effects among the three factors were not significant on anthocyanin, carotenoids, chlorophyll a and a+b. Water deficit decreased leaf proteins. Increasing intensity of ultraviolet radiation and carbon dioxide enrichment decreased soluble leaf protein in durum wheat under water deficit conditions. The results showed that three main environmental stresses which reduce leaf pigment and plant protection due to negative effects of these stresses along with soluble leaf protein reduction decrease qualitative and quantitative yield of the wheat variety.

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In a study of aphids and their parasitoids in wheat fields of Shiraz region, the species composition, distribution and seasonal dynamics of the dominant species were monitored during 2004-5.Collections were made from 1-3 hectare fields in 10 locations within 50 Km radius around Shiraz city. Species density was estimated by counting individuals present on 40 winter wheat tillers taken at random along 2 transects 5 m apart in the fields. Eight aphid and 3 parasitoid species were identified through this survey. Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Wlk.) with relative abundances of 33.94 and 31.33%, Aphidius rhopalosipi De Stefani-Perez and Praon volucre (Hal.) with relative abundances of 55.53 and 39.90%, were the dominant species of aphids and parasitoids, respectively. Seasonal dynamics of the above species were also studied in Badjgah, located 15 Km north of Shiraz city. Peak populations of the dominant aphids occurred between late May and first of June 2004-5, and those of parasitoids were seen 1-3 weeks later. A comparison between seasonal parasitism of the dominant parasitoids showed significant preferences of A. rhopalosiphi on R. padi, and P. volucre on M. dirhodum. Since the total parasitism of both wasps was nearly 30% of the two aphid hosts, attention should be paid to chemical control programs of wheat pests (such as Sunn pest) so that it does not disturb the efficiency of the aphid parasitoids.

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In order to investigate the effect of zinc - chelate on drought tolerance of Azadi cross wheat, a randomized complete block design was conducted as split plot with three replicates in the Kherameh during 1383 - 1384. The main plot was four drought levels (control and drought stress in the stages of flowering, seed milk stage and two phases, together), and sub plot was zinc - chelate rates 0, 5, 10 & 15 kg per hectare. The results showed that zinc application under drought conditions increased spike per square meter significantly at the 5% level. Drought stress decreased 1000 - seed weight. Least of 1000 - grain weight was in two phases of flowering and seed milk stage together (29.78 g). The application of 15kg zinc -chelate fixed 1000 - seed weight. Treatments of drought stress decreased seed yield significantly (14.17% in the proportion of control), but zinc - chelate application increased wheat tolerance to seed yield decrease. Zinc - chelate application prevented from seed number decrease per wheat spike under drought conditions that was caused to tolerance of seed yield and harvest index decrease. The application of 15 kg zinc - chelate increased harvest index in comparison of control amount of 22%.

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In order to evaluate the interaction effects of nitrogen and organic matter on growth and yield of dryland wheat, an experiment was conducted at the research station of the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University at Bajgah in 2005 and 2006. The experimental design was split plot in which three levels of nitrogen (0, 40, and 80 kg N ha ^-1) were main factors and additive organic matters including liquorice root residue at 15 and 30 Mg ha ^-1, municipal waste compost at 10 and 20 Mg ha ^-1, and wheat residues at 750 and 1500 kg ha ^-1 (all rates equivalent to 50 and 100%) were sub factors. A check treatment (no additive materials) was also included in the experiment. Results indicated that with increasing nitrogen level from zero to 40 and 40 to 80 kg ha^-1, wheat yield increased significantly. Among yield components, number of seeds per spike increased significantly with zero to 40 and 40 to 80 kg nitrogen ha^-1, but number of spikes m^-2 increased significantly only when nitrogen level was increased from zero to 80 kg ha^-1. Compared to check (no additive materials), maximum wheat grain yield (32%) was obtained from 100% compost application. Results of nitrogen and organic matters interaction effects indicated that 100% compost application and increasing nitrogen level from 40 to 80 kg ha ^-1 had no significant effect on dryland wheat yield. This showed the positive impact of compost application on the reduction of nitrogen fertilizer. Thus, it appears that 50% of the required nitrogen fertilizer could be replaced by compost. Applying organic matter increased soil water in both years, however, among organic matters, compost had a more pronounced effect on increasing soil water.

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In order to investigate the effect of sugar plant effluent on shoot solute percentage, yield components and grain yield of two wheat cultivars, a two year field experiment was conducted on a farm near Eghlid sugar plant during 2004-2005. Treatments consisted of two wheat cultivars (Alamot and Zarin) and two irrigated treatment: irrigation with effluent and irrigation with spring water (control). The statistical design was a completely randomized factorial with three replications. The results showed that under effluent treatment, nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium percentage increased in shoot, and Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B concentration decreased. However, effluent treatment had not any significant effect on K, Mg and S concentration. The results showed that N percentages in Alamot and Zarin cultivar under control treatment were 2.41 and 2.54% and under effluent treatment were 3.28 and 3.41%, respectively. P percentages under control treatment were 0.42 and 0.47% and under effluent treatment were 0.46 and 0.51%, respectively. Ca percentages under control treatment were 0.29 and 0.32% and under effluent treatment were 0.46 and 0.51%, respectively. In both years, the lowest number of tiller, number of spike, number of kernel per spike, thousand kernel weight, grain yield and harvest index were obtained from effluent treatment in the two wheat cultivars whereas this reduction was higher in Alamot than Zarin cultivar. In Alvand and Zarin cultivars, the lowest number of tiller per plant with 2.33 and 2.50, number of spike per plant with 1.83 and 1.92, number of kernel per spike with 31.67 and 32.50, grain yield with 5233 and 5532 kg ha^-1 and harvest index with 32.03 and 33.53% and water productivity with 0.72 and 0.75 kg m^-3 were respectively obtained from effluent treatment compared to control. Thus, the results showed that using sugar plant effluent could decrease grain wheat quality and wheat grain yield.

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Kernel hardness is one of the most important characterizations on end-use quality of bread wheat and also used for their marketing classification. Kernel texture, mainly controlled by one major locus (Ha) located on the short arm of chromosome 5D. Two tightly linked genes as puroindolin a , and b covered by this major locus and designed as Pina and Pinb respectively. When both puroindolines are in their ‘functional’ wild state, grain texture is soft. When either of the puroindoline alleles is absent or alter by mutation, then the result is hard texture. In this study, 61 Iranian commercial cultivars and 92 landraces were investigated for their kernel hardness and puroindoline alleles using SKCS and, PCR and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) techniques respectively. Specific primers were used to amplify Pina and Pinb. The results indicated that frequency of hard, mixed and soft genotypes were 65.6, 19.6 and 14.8% respectively, in commercial cultivars and 58.7, 13 and 28.3% in landraces varieties. Among hard type of commercial cultivars, 18 and 5, genotypes have identified as Pina-D1b and Pinb-D1b respectively. Kavir was only cultivar with Pinb-D1e allele. Pinb-D1b allele was identified in two hard types of landrace varieties. Surprisingly, Pinb-D1c was not found in any varieties. Influence of the above proindoline alleles on kernel hardness showed that the SKCS hardness index of Pina-D1b was significantly higher than that of Pinb-D1b. Our knowledge about the genetic basis of kernel hardness could provide useful information in breeding programs of bread wheat.

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In order to study changes in morphophysiological traits of wheat cultivars released from 1940 to 2000 in Iran and to determine the association of these traits with grain yield, an RCBD experiment was conducted with 15 wheat cultivars released during past 60 years in Arsanjan (Fars province) in 2006 and 2007. Results indicated that grain yield increased significantly during these 60 years (r=0.912, P<0.01). HI and BY increased significantly with increasing grain yield. The changes in photosynthesis rate were not significant during this period, but transpiration rate and stomotal conductance in recent cultivars increased significantly. Chlorophyll index also increased in new cultivars. Among yield components, grain number per ear increased significantly, but increase in ear number was not significant. Plant height decreased significantly in new cultivars. The results showed that during wheat breeding in Iran, increasing HI, grain number per ear, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and decreasing plant height had the highest role in wheat yield increase. The role of BY and ear number per area were lower in grain yield increase. It seems that present HI values are near the highest possible value, but the opportunity for increasing grain yield by mean of HI is still possible.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate some morphological characteristics associated with grain yield potential on 20 bread wheat cultivars under two irrigation and drought stress conditions. The experiments were conducted at Research Farm of Agriculture College, University of Tehran, Karaj during 2001-2003. Twenty bread wheat cultivars were planted as subplots within each irrigation main plots in randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Drought stress was imposed at the end of flowering, and plants were re-watered when they showed signs of wilting, particularly during the morning. The results showed that the interactions between cultivars × year and cultivars × irrigation were significant for the grain yield. The cultivars showed significant differences in grain yield under drought stress condition in 2001-2003. Roshan, M-79-4 and Alvand in 2001-2002 and Azadi, Marvdasht and M-79-17 in 2002-2003 were most productive under drought stress condition, whereas C-79-12, MV-17 and Shahpasand in 2001-2002 and M-79-4, Roshan and Nicknajad in 2002-2003 performed visa versa. Correlation between grain yield and measured traits under irrigation condition was different from drought stress condition, suggesting that grain yield controlling mechanisms operate differently under these conditions. Drought stress caused a reduction in 1000 seed weight of cultivars. High 1000 seed weight and high grain number per ear were accompanied by high grain yield in drought stress and irrigation conditions, respectively. In the present study, clear relationship between grain yield and ear length was not observed.

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Sewage sludge application on farmland as fertilizer is commonly practiced in many countries. Sewage sludge is rich in macro and micronutrients. However, high concentration of heavy metals in sludge may cause pollution of soil, groundwater and human food chain because of toxic metals uptake by crops. The objective of this study was to determine residual and cumulative effects of sewage sludge on concentration of Zn and Cu in soil and wheat. Different levels of 0, 25, 50 and 100 Mg ha-1 of sewage sludge were applied to the soil for four years. To study the cumulative and residual effects of the sewage sludge, applications were repeated on three fourth of each plot in the second year, on one half of plots in the third year and on one fourth of plots in the fourth year. Wheat was grown in the plots. After the fourth year, soil samples from the 0-20 cm depth of the different parts of the plots were taken and analyzed. After harvesting the wheat, roots, stems and grains were separately analyzed for the heavy metal concentrations. Cumulative sewage sludge application significantly (P≤0.05) increased the total and DTPA-extractable concentration of Zn and Cu in soil. Residual sewage sludge in the soil also increased the total and DTPA-extractable concentration of Zn and Cu. Single sludge applications at different rates increased the DTPA-extractable concentrations of heavy metals. In subsequent years with no further sludge application, DTPA–extractable metal concentrations in soil decreased continuously, approaching the levels in the control. However, even after four years, DTPA-extractable concentration of Zn in plots receiving more than 50 Mg ha-1 and Cu in plots receiving more than 25 Mg ha-1 sludge, were still significantly higher than control. DTPA-extractable concentrations of metals were closely correlated with total concentrations. Sewage sludge had a significant effect on concentration of Zn and Cu in stems and grains. Cumulative effects on Zn and Cu uptake by stems were more than residual effects. The results of this study show that cumulative and residual effects of sewage sludge application increased concentrations of micronutrients in soil and wheat.

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Iron deficiency is a worldwide nutritional constraint in agricultural lands especially in calcareous soils. Cultivation of crops tolerant to Fe-deficiency is an approach to combat Fe deficiency. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate Fe-efficiency of selected important crops in Iran. A completely randomized block design in triplicates was conducted at IUT research greenhouse in fall 2006. Sweet corn (Hybrid K.S.C. 404), grain corn (Hybrid S.C. 500), safflower (cvs. S3110, S-411), sunflower (Hybrid Hyson) and durum wheat (cv. Shuga) were grown in a nutrient solution at two Fe levels (1 and 10 µM Fe-EDTA). The results showed significant (P < 0.01) variation among the studied crops in Fe-efficiency. Corn hybrids were more sensitive to Fe deficiency (FeE = 26%) as compared to other studied crops, and the greatest reduction was observed in their shoot dry matter at 0.1 mM Fe- EDTA treatment. In contrast, the lowest decrease in root and shoot dry matter weight under Fe-deficient condition was found for durum wheat (FeE=94%). Comparing the calculated Fe-efficiency using different indices showed that Fe concentration and content in the whole plant, shoot and root had no relationship with crop tolerance to Fe deficiency.

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Crop yield, soil properties and erosion are strongly affected by terrain parameters. Therefore, knowledge about the effects of terrain parameters on strategic crops such as wheat production will help us with sustainable management of landscape. This study was conducted in 900ha, of Ardal district, Charmahal and Bakhtiari Province to develop regression models on wheat yield components vs. terrain parameters. Wheat yield and its components were measured in 100 points. Points were distributed randomly in stratified geomorphic surfaces. Yield components were measured by harvesting of 1 m2 plots. Terrain parameters were calculated by a 3×3 m spacing from digital elevation model. The result of descriptive statistics showed that all variables followed a normal distribution. The highest and lowest coefficient of variance (CV) was related to grain yield (0.36) and thousand seeds weight (0.13), respectively. Multiple regression models were established between yield components and terrain parameters attributes. The predictive models were validated using validation data set (20% of all data). The regression analysis revealed that wetness index and curvature were the most important attributes which explained about 45-78% of total yield components variability within the study area. The overall results indicated that topographic attributes may control a significant variability of rain-fed wheat yield. The result of validation analysis confirmed the above-stated conclusion with low RMSE and ME measures.

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Studying genetic diversity is important because a decrease in genetic variability might result in a reduction of the plasticity of the crops to respond to changes in climate, pathogen populations, or agricultural practices. In this study, 72 Sardari wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ecotypes were analyzed by AFLP markers and 17 phenotypic characters. Three pairs of EcoRI/MseI primer combinations produced 1582 polymorphic bands (with mean percentage of polymorphic 73.92%). Cluster analysis using Jaccard coefficient and the entire AFLP data divided all ecotypes into eight major groups. Mean, coefficient of variation, phenotypic, genotypic and environment variance were calculated in each quantitative character. Cluster analysis using Euclidian distance through the quantitative characters divided all ecotypes into six major groups. Comparison of genetic distances obtained from AFLP and agronomic data showed low correlation between the two diversity measurements (0.02). The results showed a high degree of genetic diversity between the Sardari ecotypes, suggesting that Sardari is not a single cultivar, but it is the mass of ecotypes and could be introduced in the gene bank.