Plant Productions

Study on the effects of dust on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollination and fruit set

A. Torahi; K. Arzani

Volume 40, Issue 2 , September 2017, , Pages 63-74

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2017.19084.1374

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesIn the recent years the phenomenon of dust increased in the environment, so has affected most agricultural products such as date palm. This study has been conducted ... Read More Background and ObjectivesIn the recent years the phenomenon of dust increased in the environment, so has affected most agricultural products such as date palm. This study has been conducted in order to study on the effects of dust on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollination and fruit set. The experiment was carried out in two growing seasons 2014 and 2015 in order to evaluate the effect of combined treatments including dust, rain and pollination on fruit set, parthenocarpic fruits and fruit abscission of 8-years old `Estamaran’ (‘Sayer’) date palms in the field. In addition, dust sediment manner on the flower and stigmatic surface in the simulated environment at the laboratory was studied. Materials and methodsIn each combined treatment in the field, all bunches of experimental trees was treated as replications. At the laboratory, simulation operation has been done by placing the flowers under binocular camera and operating the combined treatments using soft brush for dusting and pollination on the stigma, also manual hand spray was applied. A month after treatments, traits such as fruit set, parthenocarpic fruit and abscission percentage and dust sedimentation manner on the flower and stigma was studied. The data were analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance using MINITAB17 software.Results and Discussion Results showed that treatments had significant effects on the studied traits. Maximum obtained from pollination (66.11%) and minimum fruit set obtained from non-pollinated treatment (0.5%). In the other applied treatments, in spite of pollination, existence of one or two other factors and their operation order had different effects on fruit set. Combined treatments that included dust caused significant reduction in fruit set and led to the increase in fruit abscission. The maximum parthenocarpic fruit set observed in non-pollinated treatment (23.38%) with the significant difference in comparison to other treatments and the minimum parthenocarpic fruit produced by combined dust, rain and pollination treatment (0.48%). The maximum abscission was observed in the combined dust, rain and pollination treatment (83.82%) and the minimum abscission observed in pollination treatment (32.88%). The simulated operation results at the laboratory was approved and quiet similar to the results obtained from the field experiment, so the formation of dust insulator layer on the stigmatic surface inhibited most of the pollen grains for direct contact to the stigmatic surface. The obtained results from this research showed the negative impact of the dust on fruit set, so we conclude and suggest the repeat of pollination after the dust storm during date palm pollination.

Effect of foliar application of potassium sulfate on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit and oil under Ahvaz environmental conditions

Sh. Zivdar; K. Arzani; M.K. Souri; N. Moallemi; S.M. Seyyednejad

Volume 38, Issue 3 , December 2015, , Pages 13-26

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2015.11442

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of potassium sulfate on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars, two ... Read More In order to evaluate the effects of foliar application of potassium sulfate on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars, two split plot field experiments, arranged in complete block designs with three replications, were carried out through 2012–2013 in an orchard located in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, Iran. Three olive cultivars (Mission, Coronaiki and Dezfuli) and three foliar applications of potassium sulfate (0, 1 and 2 g.L-1) were randomized in main plots and sub-plots respectively. The interaction effect between year and cultivar was significant for fruit fresh weight, dry weight of fruit pulp, stone weight , pulp: stone ratio, oil content (P≤0.01) and fresh weight of pulp (P≤0.05). Also, the interaction effect between year and foliar potassium application was significant for fruit fresh weight, dry and fresh weight of fruit pulp (P≤0.01) and stone weight (P≤0.05). The interaction between cultivar and foliar application of potassium sulfate for fruit fresh weight, dry and fresh weight of fruit pulp was significant at 1% probability level. In addition, interaction effect between year, cultivar and foliar application of potassium sulfate was significant for fruit fresh weight, dry and fresh weight of fruit pulp, oil content of the fruit pulp (% D.W.) at 1% probability level, and other traits at 5% probability level. Thus, it can be concluded that annual variability in the growth environment had an important effect on the parameters studied in this experiment. Dezfuli cultivar had more oil content than other cultivars that could be due to genetic diversity among cultivars for using sources in enhancement oil content and also more compatibility with the environmental conditions in this area. Foliar application of potassium sulfate increased unsaturated fatty acids and decreased saturated fatty acids in Dezfuli and Coronaiki cultivars. The highest content of oleic acid and oleic acid: linoleic acid ratio (60.54 % and 8.38) was found in Coronaiki cultivar with foliar potassium application (2 g.L-1) and the lowest amount in Dezfuli cultivar with control treatment (48.90 % and 1.67). Therefore, year conditions as well as foliar application of potassium sulfate can have a positive impact on ftuit weight, percentage of olive oil and fatty acid composition.

Studying the effect of kaolin on fluorescence and chlorophyll content in leaves of olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv Dezful) under water deficit sress

E. Khaleghi; K. Arzani; N. Moallemi; M. Barzegar

Volume 37, Issue 2 , September 2014, , Pages 127-139

Abstract

With respect to arid and semi-arid climate of Iran, using methods which mitigate detrimental effects of water deficit on horticultural products would be of significant importance. Kaolin ... Read More With respect to arid and semi-arid climate of Iran, using methods which mitigate detrimental effects of water deficit on horticultural products would be of significant importance. Kaolin is an anti-transpiration material the application of which has been expanded during the recent years. For this purpose, the effect of three different levels of kaolin (0, 3 and 6%) as well as three different levels of irrigation (100, 65 and 40% potential ETcrop) on chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence in olive leaves “Dezful’ were examined as factorial test based on a completely randomized design in three replications (each replication including 3 pots) in the greenhouse of Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University (Tehran, Iran). The obtained results demonstrated that chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll were reduced under water deficit. The amount of reducing of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll in 80 days after treatment was greater than that in 40 days after treatment. In addition, the amount of total chlorophyll in the sprayed plants with 6% kaolin was the highest (1.425 mg/g fresh weigh of leaf) in 80 days after treatment. Furthermore, it was shown that by reducing of water content to 65 and 40% ETcrop the content of chlorophyll “a” was greater than the plants which were sprayed at kaolin concentrations of 3 and 6% in comparison with the control. Meanwhile, the results of fluorescence parameters showed that maximum fluorescence indices (Fm), fluorescence variable (Fv) and ratio of fluorescence variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were reduced under drought stress. However, the kaolin treatment had no significant effect on these indices. Generally, it can be expected that spraying of the olive gardens in Iran with kaolin, especially in regions exposed to water deficit can moderate the drought stress and mitigate the detrimental effects of water deficit, while improving photosynthesis efficiency of the leaf.

Evaluation of genetic diversity in some strawberry (fragaria × annanasa Duch.) cultivars in Iran using morphological characteristics

H.A. Asadi Gharneh; K. Arzani; A. Shojaeiyan; A.R. Golparvar; N. Sabaghnia

Volume 37, Issue 4 , March 2014, , Pages 93-106

Abstract

Strawberry is one of the most important small fruits in Iran and the world. Identification of elite cultivars according to morphological characteristics is an important task in any ... Read More

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Author = K. Arzani

Study on the effects of dust on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollination and fruit set

Abstract

Effect of foliar application of potassium sulfate on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit and oil under Ahvaz environmental conditions

Abstract

Studying the effect of kaolin on fluorescence and chlorophyll content in leaves of olive plants (Olea europaea L. cv Dezful) under water deficit sress

Abstract

Evaluation of genetic diversity in some strawberry (fragaria × annanasa Duch.) cultivars in Iran using morphological characteristics

Abstract