Document Type : Research Paper - Horticulture

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Payame Noor University (PNU), Iran

2 Associate Professor, Agricultural, Medicinal Plants and Animals Sciences Research Center, Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran

3 M.Sc. Graduate of Agronomy, Department of Agriculture, Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the five important oil plants of Iran. Water deficit stress is one of the most important limiting factors in sunflower cultivation. Methanol is used to deal with environmental stresses, especially dehydration. Preventing or reducing light respiration, delaying leaf senescence, increasing photosynthetic activation period and leaf area duration index and increasing CO2 fixation are among the roles of methanol application in plants. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of methanol spraying on some morphophysiological characteristics, yield and yield components of sunflower under drought stress conditions.
 
Materials and Methods
This field experiment was conducted as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Birjand, Iran, in 2017. The main plots included two irrigation levels (irrigation after 80 and 160 mm evaporation form class A pan). On the other hand, the sub- plots included five levels of methanol spraying; control (spraying with water), 7, 14 and 21% v/v. Statistical analysis was performed using MSTATC software. Duncan's multiple range test at the 5% level of probability was used to compare the means.
 
Results and Discussion
Results showed that deficit irrigation reduced stem diameter, number of grains per head and kernel/husk weight ratio. Methanol spraying also increased the number of grains per head. Also, methanol spraying improved most of the studied traits under two irrigation treatments. So that under drought stress conditions, foliar application with 28% volumetric methanol increased plant height (9.9%), stem diameter (5%) and leaf number per plant (14.7%). Compared with control, foliar application with 14% and 21% volumetric methanol increased SPAD by 8% and 34.7%, respectively and also, increased 1000-grain weight (12%), grain yield (27.9%) and biological yield (23.4%). According to the results, under optimum irrigation conditions, maximum sunflower grain yield was obtained with 28% volumetric methanol spraying, but under drought stress conditions, spraying with 21% volume methanol was the best one.
 
Conclusion
The results showed that foliar application of methanol under optimum and also deficit irrigation conditions did not affect the percentage and yield of sunflower oil seed, but increased grain yield. Maximum grain yield under optimum irrigation was obtained with 28% volumetric spraying, which was 27% more than control. Also, the results showed that under arid and semi-arid conditions of Birjand, deficit irrigation with using methanol (21% volumetric) produces acceptable grain yield.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Amraei, B., Peknezad, F., Ebrahimi, M. A., & Subhaniyan, H. (2017). Effect of methanol foliar application and drought tension on grain yield and growth indices of soybean (Glycine max L.). Crop Physiology Journal, 9(34), 111-129. [In Farsi]
Asghari, B., & Gharibi Asl, S. (2016). The oil and protein content of Isfahan’s safflower in different periods of irrigation, levels of humic acid and superabsorbent. International Journal of Life Science and Pharma Research, 6(1), 56-63.
Baghalian, K., Abdoshah, Sh., Khalighi-Sigaroudi, F., & Paknejad, F. (2011). Physiological and phytochemical response to drought stress of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 49(2), 201-207.
Downie, A., Miyazaki, S., Bohnert, H., John, P., Coleman, J., Parry, M., & Haslam, R. (2004). Expression profiling of the response of arabidopsis thaliana to methanol stimulation. Phytochemistry, 65, 2305-2316.
Esazadeh Panjali Kharabasi, J., Galavi, M., & Ramroudi, M. (2017). Effects of methanol spraying on qualitative traits, yield and yield components of soybean (Glycine max L.) under drought stress conditions. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 15(3), 511-521. [In Farsi]
Esfini Farahani, M., Pack Negad, F., Kashani, A., Ardakani, M. R., Bakhtiari Moghaddam., M., & Rezai, M. (2013). Effect of methanol spraying on yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuss L. Azargol hybrid) under different moisture conditions. Agronomy and Plant Breeding Journal, 8(1), 115-125. [In Farsi]
Gholinezhad, E., & Darvishzadeh, R. (2018). Estimates of variance components and heritability of grain yield and yield components in confectionary sunflower landraces in different levels of irrigation.  Plant Productions, 41(2), 29-40. [In Farsi]
Jami, M. Q., Ghalavand, A., Modarres-Sanavy, S. A. M., Mokhtassi Bidgoli, A., Baghbani- Arani,
A., & Namdari, A. (2018‌a). Effect of manure, zeolite and irrigation on soil properties and seed yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 19(2), 151-167. [In Farsi]
Jami, M., Ghalavand, A., & Modares Sanavy, S. (2018 b). Evaluation of agronomic characteristics and seed quality of sunflower in response to different regimes of nitrogen, irrigation and zeolite. Journal of Crops Improvement, 19(4), 1011-1032. [In Farsi]
Javadi, H., Moosavi, S., Seghatoleslami, M., & Kermani, F. (2021). Effect of organic and chemical improver’s application on yield and essential oil percentage of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) under water deficit stress conditions. Plant Productions, 44(2), 283-294. [In Farsi]
Khalilvand Behrouzyar, E., & Yarnia, M. (2014). Can methanol foliar application improve the productive performance of sunflower under water deficit stress? International Journal of Biosciences, 5(2), 28-32.
Mirakhori, M., Paknejad, M. R., Ardakani, F., moradi, P., Nazeri, P., & Nasri, M. (2010). Effect of methanol spraying on yield and yield components of soybean (Glycine max L.). Agroecology, 2(2), 244-236. [In Farsi]
Moradi Ghahderijani, M., Sadat Asilan, K., & Modarres Sanavy, S. A. M. (2015). Effect of imperovers application on seed yield and irrigation water use efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus
 
L.) under water deficit stress conditions. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences, 17(2), 115-127. [In Farsi]
Ramirez, I., Dorta, F., Espinoza, V., Jimenez, E., Mercado, A., & Pena Cortes, H. (2006). Effects of foliar and root applications of methanol on the growth of arabidopsis, tobacco and tomato plants. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 25, 30-44.
Seyed sharif, R., & Seyed Sharifi, R. (2019). Effects of different irrigation levels and application of methanol and nano iron oxide on yield and grain filling components of sunflower. Journal of Crops Improvement, 21(1), 27-42. [In Farsi]
Simova- Stoilova, L., Demirevska, K., Petrova, T., Tsenov, N., & Feller, U. (2008). Antioxidative protection in wheat varieties under severe recoverable drought at seedling stage. Plant Soil and Environment, 54, 529- 536.
Soleymani, F., & Ahmadvand, G. (2016). The effect of chemical, biological and organic nutritional treatments on sunflowers yield and yield components under water deficit stress. Journal of Agroecology, 8(1), 107-119. [In Farsi]
Yadollahi Dehchecsme, P., Bagheri, A. A., Amini, A., & Esmailzade Bahabadi, S. (2014). Effect of drought tension and chitosan foliar application on yield and photosynthetic pigments of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Crop Physiology Journal, 6(21), 73-83. [In Farsi]
Yadollahi, P., Asgharipour, M. R., Marvane, H., Kheiri, N., & Amiri, A. (2017). The effects of drought stress on grain and oil yield of two cultivars of sunflower. Journal of Crop Science Research in Arid Regions, 1(1), 65-76. [In Farsi]
Zareei Siahbidi, A., & Rrezaizad, A. (2018). Effect of deficit irrigation and super absorbent application on physiological characteristics and seed yield of new Iranian sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences, 20(3), 222-236. [In Farsi]
Zbiec, I., Karczmarczyk, S., & Podsiadlo, C. (2003). Response of some cultivated plants to methanol as compared to supplemental irrigation. Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities, 6‌(1), 1-7.