•A single foliar spray with relatively low amounts of B or Zn nano-fertilizers (34mgBtree−1 or 636mgZntree−1, respectively) led to increases in pomegranate fruit yield.•Fertilization with the highest ...of the two doses led to significant improvements in fruit quality, including TSS, decreases in TA, and increases in maturity index and pH in juice.•Physical fruit characteristics were unaffected. Changes in total sugars and total phenolic compounds were only minor, whereas the antioxidant activity and total anthocyanin were unaffected.
This study was carried out to assess the effects of the foliar application of nano-fertilizers of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on pomegranate (Punica granatum cv. Ardestani) fruit yield and quality. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized block design, with nine treatments and four replications per treatment. Foliar sprays of nano-Zn chelate fertiliser at three concentrations (0, 60 and 120mgZnL−1) and nano-B chelate fertiliser (0, 3.25 and 6.5mgBL−1) were applied as a single spray before full bloom at a rate of 5.3Ltree−1. The application of Zn and B increased the leaf concentrations of both microelements in August, reflecting the improvements in tree nutrient status. A single foliar spray with relatively low amounts of B or Zn nano-fertilizers (34mgBtree−1 or 636mgZntree−1, respectively) led to increases in pomegranate fruit yield, and this was mainly due to increases in the number of fruits per tree. The effect was not as large with Zn as with B. Fertilization with the highest of the two doses led to significant improvements in fruit quality, including 4.4–7.6% increases in TSS, 9.5–29.1% decreases in TA, 20.6–46.1% increases in maturity index and 0.28–0.62pH unit increases in juice pH, whereas physical fruit characteristics were unaffected. Changes in total sugars and total phenolic compounds were only minor, whereas the antioxidant activity and total anthocyanins were unaffected.
Chemical composition, antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of (Pistacia khinjuk) hull essential oil (EO) were evaluated in this study. The EO was isolated and analyzed by gas ...chromatography-mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using 6 strains of Gram-positive and negative bacteria. DPPH radical scavenging (DPPH) and β-Caroten Bleaching (BCB) assays were used to measure antioxidant activity of the EO. In vitro cytotoxic activity was measured using MTT assay. Fifty-six compounds representing 99.5% of the total oil composition were identified. In the antibacterial results, Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most susceptible strain (MIC and MBC = 16 μg/ml). Antioxidant IC50 values were respectively 19.03 ± 0.001 and 49.22 ± 0.005 μg/mL. The IC50 indexes of cytotoxic tests were 29.6, 37.3 and 41.1 μg/mL for MCF-7, PC3 and DU-145 cell lines, respectively.
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•The Chemical composition, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of P. khinjuk were evaluated.•The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration were determined using 6 strains of bacteria.•DPPH radical scavenging and β-Caroten Bleaching assays were used to measure antioxidant activity of the EO.•The EO has antibacterial and antioxidant activities and may serve in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Self-incompatibility, low yield and fruit set represent important factors influencing the pear production in Iran. Some compounds such as polyamines and the mixture of some mineral elements like SICS ...could be suitable to decrease above concerns. The trail included putrescine (Put) (0.1, 0.25 mM), both spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) (0.05, 0.25 mM) and SICS (1, 2 mg/L) in (self and open) pollination and control. Spd (0.25 mM) in open pollination mode showed the highest yield per branch and fruit set in comparison with control. Spermidine (0.25 mM) in self-pollination mode was the best treatment for fruit length and diameter. In self-pollination mode, Spd (0.05 mM), Spm (0.25 mM) and SICS at 2 mg.L showed the significantly increase in irregular fruit shape. Spd and Put (0.25 mM) in self-pollination showed the best fruit volume among all of the treatments at both of pollination mode
Early season foliar fertilization with different nutrients is a promising tool in pomegranate grown in poor, high pH soils. The effects of foliar fertilization with FeSO4 and the synthetic chelate ...Fe(III)-EDDHA (Fe(III)-ethylendiaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetate)) on fruit yield and physicochemical characteristics were assessed in a two-season field trial. Fertilizers were sprayed at full bloom and one month later, using Fe concentrations of 1.3 and 2.6 mM for FeSO4 and 1.1 and 2.1 mM for the Fe-chelate. Both doses of FeSO4 and the higher chelate dose increased leaf Fe concentrations and fruit yield, with the best results being observed with 2.6 mM FeSO4 (20–31% increases in yield). On the other hand, leaf N, P, K, Ca, and Mn concentrations were not affected by foliar Fe fertilization. The only treatment that increased the number of fruits per tree, aril juice content and juice total soluble solids and decreased juice total acidity in both seasons was 2.6 mM FeSO4. Both FeSO4 doses caused consistent increases in the maturity index and total sugars in juice, along with minor decreases in juice total phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity in juice was slightly decreased by 2.6 mM FeSO4. In conclusion, early season foliar Fe fertilization had positive effects on pomegranate yield and quality, with FeSO4 being better than Fe(III)-EDDHA.
The most critical problems of temperate fruit trees are poor fruit set and low yield. To solve the problem, some major chemical compounds such as polyamines and SICS (self-incompatibility control ...substance, Mn+B) can be used. Popular polyamines including Putrescine (0.1 and 0.25 mM), both Spermine and Spermidine (0.05 and 0.25 mM), and SICS (1 and 2 mg L−1) were used alone or with cotton coverage bags to cover branches in order to investigate self-incompatibility in Malus domestica. Results showed that Spermidine (0.25 mM) led to higher yields in comparison with that of the control. SICS (2 mg L−1), also, demonstrated the highest yield compared with that of the control. At June fruit set, treatment with Spermidine (0.25 mM) led to the highest percentage of fruit set and also the highest index of self-incompatibility and percentage of final fruit set among treatments.
Among the main problems of some temperate fruit species, such as the apple tree (Malus domestica), are the poor set of fruits and low production. Polyamines and Self-Incompatibility Control ...Substances (SICS), involving mineral nutrients such as manganese and boron, are the major chemical compounds used to reduce these problems. The aim of this study was to use popular polyamines putrescine (Put) at 0.1, 0.25 mM, spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) both at 0.05, 0.25 mM and SICS at 1, 2 mg L-1, alone or with cotton coverage bags and control to show the effects of these chemical compounds on yield indices and qualitative traits of apple (Malus domestica) cv ‘Red Delicious’. Results showed that Spd (0.25 mM) and SICS (1 mg L-1) had higher effect on yield per weight and per fruit number, final fruit set and ISI, but Spd (0.25 mM) decreased final drop. Put (0.1 mM + ccb), Spd (0.25 mM) and SICS (2 mg L-1 + ccb) were the most suitable treatments in order to increase the qualitative characteristics.
In order to study the impact of salt stress (0, 1.5, 3 and 6) ds.m-1 in nutrient’s solution on tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. memory) at different root zone temperature low (20°C), medium ...(25°C) and high (30°C), an experiment was carried at Department of Horticultural, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran. The result showed that low and high root zone heating decreased leaf area, total sugar and phenol content compared to root zone temperature 25°C (optimum), while main branches number, pH, E.C. and anthocyanin of fruit increased at high root zone temperature compared to low root zone temperature. Flavonoid increased under the root zone temperature of 20°C in comparison with temperatures 25 and 30°C, and stem diameter was not affected by root zone heating. Furthermore, salt stress at the level of 3 ds.m-1 increased stem diameter, total sugar, pH and EC of fruit, leaf area and phenol content, whereas salt stress at a high level (6 ds.m-1) increased flavonoid content. Besides, anthocyanin content decreased in control and salt stress at 6 ds.m-1 when compared to salt stress at 3 ds.m-1.
Concerns related to the rise of disposition to the application of the medicinal plants throughout the world have gone up on their cultivation and production processes. In order to study the effect of ...planting seasons on morphological traits, yield, oil content and oil composition of black cumin, an experiment was conducted under field condition in Mashhad, Iran in 2012-2013 as a randomized complete block design with two treatments and three replications. The treatments were included spring (April 2013) and autumn November 2012) planting dates. During growth seasons, the phonological stages in both autumn and spring were recorded. The results showed that the species could be planted well in spring and autumn. Also, results showed that with the delay in sowing from spring to autumn, plant height, branch number per plant, plant dry weight, LAI, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, seed number per plant, seed weight, and seed yield and oil content significantly decreased. Major constituents of fatty oil were determined as linoleic, palmitic and oleic acid. Spring sowing dates and maximum change was seen in linoleic acid from 55.71% in autumn to 55.5% in spring. Growth periods from sowing to fruiting stage were 187 and 103 days in autumn and spring sowing date, respectively.
The damage to pear and plum buds was investigated in Mashhad, after a period of unusually warm weather for a few days in March 2013 followed by a sudden drop in temperature to -12°C. Frost damages of ...vegetative and reproductive buds and spur-part below the buds of pear and plum cultivars were investigated based on visual observations. The following pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars were investigated: William’s, Bell de june, Ida, Spadona, Koshia, Domkaj, Dare Gazi, Mohamad Ali, Boheme, Shekari, Ghodumi and one Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd.). Japanese plum (P. salicina L.) included ’Shiro’, ’Shams’, ’Computi’ and European plum (Prunus domestica L.) included ’Stanley’, ‘Early Santa Rosa’, ’Late Santa Rosa’, ’Shablon’ and ’Black Diamond’. Electrical conductivity (EC) and proline content were measured in reproductive buds. It was discovered that visual damages were different between cultivars, as the vegetative pear bud of ‘Ghodumi’ suffered the most damage and all parts of ‘Late Santa Rosa’ were the most susceptible in plum cultivars. On the other hand, ‘Computi’ had the most resistant reproductive bud and no damage was observed in the other parts. The EC and proline content of ‘Dare Gazi’ were the highest despite the fact that high proline content did not show high resistance, which was related to the phenological stage of ‘Dare Gazi’.
The trend of postharvest changes in sweet cherry (Prunus avium) cv. Siah-e Mashhad, sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) cv. Erdi Botermo and Iranian local cultivar named Albaloo Mohallai were investigated. ...The traits were recorded included antioxidant activity, total anthocyanin and phenolic content, flesh firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids concentration (SSC), Juice pH, SSC/TA ratio and percentage of weight loss. They were evaluated at harvest after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of storage in packages with modified atmosphere (MAP) and regular atmosphere (RAP) (control) and refrigerated at 0±1℃. The results showed that the fruits packed in modified atmosphere had better quality than the ones packed in air due to higher SSC, TA, firmness, and lower pH, SSC/TA ratio and weight loss. All quality attributes diminished with storage time, while fruit firmness did not exhibit any particular trend during storage. The trends of total anthocyanin, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity during storage varied, depending on the cherry type. The negative correlation between antioxidant activity and fruit deformation (r from -0.49 to -0.72) was found.