Plant Productions

Optimization of greenhouse cucumber growth and fruit yield in response to foliar application of salicylic acid and boric acid

Amir Hossein Shahbazi; Seyyed Javad Mousavizadeh; Kambiz Mashayekhi; Ayoub Ghorbani Dehkordi

Volume 48, Issue 1 , April 2025, , Pages 69-85

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2024.47687.2193

Abstract

Introduction Cucumber is one of the most widely cultivated greenhouse vegetables in Iran. It is essential to properly nourish plants and use elements and compounds that increase yield ... Read More Introduction Cucumber is one of the most widely cultivated greenhouse vegetables in Iran. It is essential to properly nourish plants and use elements and compounds that increase yield while maintaining and improving quality. However, its production is often challenged by environmental stresses that reduce water and nutrient uptake, directly affecting yield and quality. Salicylic acid serves as a key plant regulator and stress mitigator, while boron plays a critical role in sugar transport, hormone regulation, and fruit and leaf formation. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of salicylic acid and boric acid on the growth and yield of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Gohar) under soil-based cultivation. Materials and MethodsThe experiment was conducted using a factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments included foliar spraying of salicylic acid at three concentrations (0, 0.5 and 1 mM) and boric acid at three concentrations (0, 2 and 4 mM). Foliar applications were carried out four times at 10-day intervals, starting from the emergence of the second true leaf. Morphological traits such as plant height, number of leaves, individual leaf area, and petiole length were recorded. Biochemical parameters, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin were analyzed. Fruit quality attributes such as total sugar, sucrose, glucose and fructose as well as yield-related traits including the number of fruit and total yield were also measured. Results and DiscussionBoth salicylic acid and boric acid significantly influenced plant growth, biochemical composition, and fruit yield. The highest leaf count (47.33) was observed with 0.5 mM salicylic acid and 0 mM boric acid, while the largest leaf area (306 cm2) was recorded with 0 mM salicylic acid and 2 mM boric acid. The maximum total chlorophyll content (12.11 and 10.8 mgg-1FW) was achieved with in 0 and 1 mM salicylic acid, respectively, combined with 2 mM boric acid. The highest sucrose (226.28 mg g FW-1) and fructose (87.9 mg g FW-1) contents were found in 1 mM salicylic acid without boric acid, while the highest glucose content (368.71 mg g FW-1) was recorded in 1mM salicylic acid with 2 mM boric acid. The greatest number of fruits (86.33) and the highest total fruit yield (9.59 kg plant-1; 21.10 kg m-2) were obtained with 0.5 mM salicylic acid combined with 2 mM boric acid. The lowest number of fruits (44) and yield (3.39 kg plant-1) were recorded in the control treatment. The lowest plant height of 189.3 cm was associated with 1 mM salicylic acid and 4 mM boric acid. The results showed that the highest petiole length with 15.66 cm was related to 0 mM salicylic acid, and 0.5 and 1 mM salicylic acid caused a decrease in petiole length with 14.88 and 14.33 cm, respectively. ConclusionSalicylic acid had a stronger effect on plant growth and yield than boric acid. However, their combined application produced better results than either treatment alone. The most effective treatment for optimizing cucumber growth and fruit yield was o.5 mM salicylic acid combined with 2 mM boric acid.

Karyotypic Analysis of Garlic (Allium sativum) Accessions in the North of Iran

Seyyed Javad Mousavizadeh; Mostafa Khoshhal Sarmast; Kambiz Mashayekhi

Volume 44, Issue 1 , June 2021, , Pages 37-50

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2019.27338.1661

Abstract

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesAllium sativum is one of the most important, mostly used economical vegetable plants in Iran. Chromosome analysis or karyotyping is a test that evaluates ... Read More AbstractBackground and ObjectivesAllium sativum is one of the most important, mostly used economical vegetable plants in Iran. Chromosome analysis or karyotyping is a test that evaluates the number and structure of chromosomes to study evolution. The present study was carried out to explore the cytological features, including chromosome number and karyotypic characteristics in a local cultivar of Allium sativum L., north of Iran (Gorgan, Sari, and Rasht accessions). Materials and MethodsThe root tip cells were treated first with 0.002 mol·L−1 8-hydroxyquinoline for 4 h at 4°C and then fixed for 24 h in fixative (1:3 glacial acetic acid/absolute alcohol) at 4°C. Finally, the root tips were softened with 1 M hydrochloric acid at room temperature for 8 min and stained for 10 min with acceto orcein 2% before being squashed between a glass slide and a coverslip. Root tip cells photographed at mitosis metaphase, which had well-separated chromosomes and a clear centromere. Long arm, short arm, the ratio of long arm to short arm, and chromosome index of mitotic chromosomes were calculated from metaphase plates. Figures summarized the idiogram for the three garlic accessions, based on the eight pairs of chromosomes’ short arm order length. ResultsBasic chromosome number was confirmed as x = 8 (2n = 2x = 16). All the studied accessions cytotypes were diploid. The largest chromosome length belonged to Gorgan accesion as amount 169.51 micrometers, and the smallest chromosome length was obtained in Rasht accesion as amount 136.57 micrometers. The long arm of the chromosome was recorded between 4.85 to 6 micrometers. The short arm of the chromosome was measured between 3.18 to 3.80 micrometers. The Metaphase karyotype analysis revealed that centromeres were mainly located at the middle (metacentric - m) or near the middle (submetacentric - sm) of chromosomes. The chromosomes are arranged in decreasing order for short arm length, and the karyotype formula was obtained 12m+4sm for all accessions. Chromosomes 13 to 16 were submetacentric for both Gorgan and Rasht accessions. Submetacenteric Chromosomes were observed on chromosomes number 11-12 and 15-16 for Sari accesion. Three of the studied accessions were evolutionary located in one level according to asymmetrical karyotype, the value of TF% and separating to 2B classes based on Stebbins categories. DiscussionRegarding asymmetric karyotype and according to interchromosomal asymmetry (A2) as well as difference between the range of relative length (DRL), the most were found in Rasht accession (A2=0.34; DRL=6.99). A2 and DRL are two aspects of karyotype asymmetry related to shifts of the centromere position from the median to terminal or subterminal. The karyological data provide a comprehensive cytogenetic resource useful in cytotaxonomic research and assessment of their role in the evolution of Garlic. This resource can help better understand the taxonomy, evolution, and speciation in the genus Allium and identify candidate species for breeding programs.

Optimization of in vitro Callus Induction and Somatic Embryogenesis of Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) Supplemented with 2,4-D and IAA

Sara Ahmadi; Kambiz Mashayekhi; Seyyed Javad Mousavizadeh

Volume 43, Issue 1 , June 2020, , Pages 25-38

https://doi.org/10.22055/ppd.2019.26639.1635

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objectives Horseradish has a male sterility that produces a small amount of seed with a low germination. It then propagates with root cuttings, which ... Read More Abstract Background and Objectives Horseradish has a male sterility that produces a small amount of seed with a low germination. It then propagates with root cuttings, which is also subject to a limited number of mother rootstocks. Therefore, the mass proliferation of this plant is important through tissue culture, especially somatic embryogenesis protocols. Somatic embryogenesis is a method to develop embryo via plant somatic cells during in vitro culture. The purpose of the present experiment is to find the best method for callus and somatic embryogenesis inducing horseradish, which is carried out in two B5 and NL media in both solid and liquid phases. Materials and Methods This research was carry out in the tissue culture lab of the department of horticultural sciences at gorgan university agricultural sciences and natural resources from 2016 to 2019. Calli are developed on callus induction media (B5 + 1 µM 2,4-D + 2 µM kin, NL + 1 µM IAA + 2 µM kin), and then transferred to somatic embryo induction phase (B5 + 3 µM 2,4-D + 4 µM kin, NL + 3 µM IAA + 4 µM kin) for 8 weeks. Elimination of IAA, 2,4-D and kin from induced calli done onto realization phase, and globular, heart and torpedo embryos observed 4 weeks later. Results Based on the results, the best surface sterilization was achieved by 70% ethanol for 30 seconds and 70% aqueous sodium hypochlorite (v/v) for 60 minutes. The callus and somatic embryo were observed in both solid and liquid B5 and NL media. In the study of callus induction, according to the measurement of appearance quality and the process of callus formation, the growth and increase of callus in solid phase are higher than that of liquid phase. The highest callus induction record is seen in solid B5 medium containing 2 µM Kin and 1 µM 2,4-D. Generally, calli on embryo induction phase are bright green to yellowish and compact consisting of separate clusters of somatic embryonic cells. The results of somatic embryogenesis revealed that globular, heart, torpedo and total embryos in B5 containing 1 µM 2,4-D are more than NL containing 1 µM IAA. Discussion Optimizing the growth of somatic embryos is important for mass propagation of plants that face problems in seed germination or have a long growth period. Due to the success of the production of horseradish somatic embryos, the results of this experiment can provide the possibility of production and propagation of horseradish plants in a short time. Further studies are required to determine the somaclonal variation of horseradish mature somatic embryos and plantlets.

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Author = Mousavizadeh, Seyyed Javad

Optimization of greenhouse cucumber growth and fruit yield in response to foliar application of salicylic acid and boric acid

Abstract

Karyotypic Analysis of Garlic (Allium sativum) Accessions in the North of Iran

Abstract

Optimization of in vitro Callus Induction and Somatic Embryogenesis of Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) Supplemented with 2,4-D and IAA

Abstract