Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120813Info0080110.22069/ijpp.2012.801ENJournal Article20120813Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801A review on partial root-zone drying irrigation24125870810.22069/ijpp.2012.708ENA.R. SepaskhahIrrigation Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I.R. of Iran.S.H. AhmadiIrrigation Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I.R. of Iran.Journal Article20120801Available fresh water resources are subjected to an ever-increasing pressure due to extensive agricultural water demand for irrigated lands. A long-term perspective in shortage of fresh water resources, especially in arid and semi-arid area, highlights an urgent solution for innovative irrigation strategy and agricultural water management. This paper is a review on the wide applications of the partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD) on diverse plant species. The PRD irrigation is a novel improvement of deficit irrigation in which half of the root zone is irrigated alternatively in scheduled irrigation events. In the last decade, scientists across the world, especially from arid to semi-arid countries, have extensively evaluated this irrigation as a water-saving irrigation strategy on agronomic and horticultural plants. This review paper focuses on the physiological and morphological aspects of PRD on plants and its ultimate impact on yield and water productivity. Overall, under limited water resources where water is precious, PRD is a viable irrigation option to increase water productivity while margining the yield, rather than only increasing the economic yield without concerning the value of water in limited water environments.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801Development of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration model for estimation of oil content in a worldwide safflower germplasm collection25927070910.22069/ijpp.2012.709ENE. ElfadlInstitute of Crop Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.C. ReinbrechtPflanzenzuchtSaKa GbR, Dorfstrasse 39, D-17495, Germany.W. ClaupeinInstitute of Crop Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany.Journal Article20120801The development of NIRS calibration model as a rapid, precise, robust, and cost-effective method to estimate oil content in ground seeds of worldwide safflower germplasm collection grown under different agro-climatic conditions was the key objective of this research project. The oil content was measured by accelerated solvent extraction method in a total of 328 samples collected across 2004 (165 samples) and 2005 (163) growing seasons and used as reference values. Two thirds of the measured samples were used for building the calibrations and one third for the validations. Combined and annual calibration and validation models were carried out by NIRCal 4.21 using the partial least squares (PLS) regression. Different data pretreatments such as full multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), first derivative or smoothing way of Savitzky-Golay with a gap of 9 data points were used to improve the calibration models. The optimum PLS factors for developing the best calibration were 12, 10, and 14 for combined model, annual model of 2004 and of 2005, respectively. In combined and annual models, the statistical parameters in calibration model were consistent with the respective parameters in validation model. Coefficient of variation (15.5 to 25.1) demonstrated high variability in calibration and validation models. The standard error of estimation (SEE) and standard error of prediction (SEP) for combined model were 1.40 and 1.43, respectively. Although the quality value (Q-value) of calibration was slightly higher in annual models (0.66 for both), the combined calibration model (0.64) precisely predicted oil content as indicated by higher coefficient of determination (0.90) and RPD (3.2%) compared to annual calibration. The accuracy and precision of the combined calibration model were sufficient to use NIRS as a tool for screening of oil content in a diverse safflower germplasm in the range obtained.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801Flower formation and pod/flower ratio in canola (Brassica napus L.) affected by assimilates supply around flowering27128071010.22069/ijpp.2012.710ENA. FarajiAgricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Golestan, Gorgan.Journal Article20120801An alternative means by which to examine the importance of assimilates supply to flower and pod formation is to analyze the relationships of leaf area index (LAI), above-ground dry matter (ADM), leaf area duration (LAD) and crop growth rate (CGR) around flowering with flower number and pod/flower ratio. For this objective, an experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station of Gonbad, Iran in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. The experiment was a randomized complete block design arranged in split plot. Two cultivars of spring type canola (Hyola401 and RGS003) as subplots were grown at 5 sowing dates as main plots, spaced approximately 30 days apart, to obtain different environmental conditions and assimilates availability around flowering. The experiment was conducted at two conditions, i.e. supplemental irrigation and rainfed. In both main (MR) and branch (MR) racemes, flower number increased as LAI and ADM at the beginning of flowering increased. The reduction in flower number with reduction of LAI and ADM is evidence that canola plants can adjust to carbohydrates availability by altering the number of potential resource demanding sinks. Pod/flower ratio was quadratically related to ADM at the beginning of flowering. A significant positive linear relationship was found between LAD and CGR during flowering period and pod/flower ratio. Therefore, potential and actual pod number was related to cumulative dry matter production of the crop until the beginning of flowering and until the end of flowering, respectively.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801Timing and Rate of Phosphorus Application Influence Maize Phenology, Yield and Profitability in Northwest Pakistan28129271110.22069/ijpp.2012.711EN- AmanullahDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar-PAKISTAN.M. ZakirullahDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar-PAKISTAN.S.K. KhalilDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar-PAKISTAN.Journal Article20120801Phosphorus (P) is the second most important crop nutrient after nitrogen that increases productivity and profitability of maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) on P deficient soils in Northwest Pakistan. The objective of this study was to find the best level and time of P application for higher maize (cv. Azam) productivity and profitability. Field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar during summer 2005, comprising of six P application timings [40, 30, 20 and 10 days before sowing (DBS), at sowing and 15 days after sowing (DAS)] as main plots, and three P levels (30, 60 and 90 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup>) as subplots. The highest level of P enhanced phenological development, and increased ear length, number of rows and grains ear<sup>-1</sup>, grain weight, economic yield, shelling percentage, and net returns. Application of P at 10 DBS had marked increase in ear length, grain weight, grain yield, shelling percentage and net returns; while plots that received P at sowing time produced the highest number of rows and grains ear<sup>-1</sup>. There was no much difference in the net returns when P was applied at 10 DBS (22, 560 PKR ha<sup>-1</sup>) or at sowing (21, 883 PKR ha<sup>-1</sup>). It could be concluded from the study that application of 90 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> either at 10 DBS or at sowing time is necessary for profitable maize production in the study area.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801Comparison of three types of G × E performance plot for showing and interpreting genotypes’ stability and adaptability29330271210.22069/ijpp.2012.712ENM. KozakDepartment of Experimental Design and Bioinformatics Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.Journal Article20120801A G × E performance (interaction, profile) plot for showing genotype-by-environment data is discussed. Three versions of such a plot are compared: the regular performance plot; the performance plot based on coded data (environment-centered performance plot), in which the environment means of a trait are subtracted from data; and the performance plot based on data standardized in environments (environment-standardized performance plot). The plots are compared for six soybean genotypes studied in eight environments. The regular performance plot best conveys information about genotype stability in a static sense, and provides more information about the environments than the two other plots. The environment-centered performance plot better presents genotype stability in a dynamic sense and adaptability. The environment-standardized performance plot poorly represents stability in both senses and adaptability.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801A linkage group of four genes related to morphological traits in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)30330871310.22069/ijpp.2012.713ENE. KhosraviM.Sc. Student, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O.Box. 115, Shahrekod University, Iran.M. KhodambashiAssistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O.Box. 115, Shahrekod University, Iran.Sh. MohammadiAssistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O.Box. 115, Shahrekod University, Iran.Journal Article20120801Monogenic inheritance and linkage among four morphological traits of lentil were established on the basis of <em>F</em>1 observations and analysis of 204 <em>F</em>2 plants in a cross for development of pubescence on peduncle, 228 <em>F</em>2 plants in a cross for tendril formation, 574 <em>F</em>2 plants in 5 crosses for flower numbers per peduncle and 464<em> F</em>2 plants in 4 crosses for flower color under field conditions. Development of pubescence on peduncle was found to be dominant over glabrous, two flowers per peduncle was dominant over three flowers, purple flower color was dominant over white flower. Linkage was estimated from joint segregation analysis, taking two characters at a time in all possible combinations as significant χ<sup>2</sup> values were recorded for these genes. Gene symbols <em>Tnl</em>, <em>Pub</em>, <em>Fn</em> and <em>P</em> were used for these four traits, respectively. The genes were arranged in the order of <em>Pub</em>-<em>Tnl</em>-<em>Fn</em>-<em>p</em> with the map distance of 33, 29 and 41 cM between them in coupling phase and 27, 36 and 47 cM in repulsion phase, respectively.Gorgan University of Agricultural SciencesInternational Journal of Plant Production1735-68144420120801The effects of BAP, IBA and genotypes on in vitro germination of immature walnut embryos30932271410.22069/ijpp.2012.714ENK. PayghamzadehYoung Research Club of Islamic Azad university (Azadshahr branch).S.K. KazemitabarDept of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology. Sari Agricultural and Natural Resources University (SANRU), Sari, Iran.Journal Article20120801A prerequisite for most plant transformation systems is an efficient and reliable method to regenerate phenotypically normal plants. The present studies were undertaken with a view to the effects of Benzyl amino purine (BAP) and Indol butyric acid (IBA) hormones and genotypes on in vitro germination of immature embryos in walnut (<em>Juglans regia</em> L.). The immature embryos of walnut were excised from different cultivars and cultured on DKW basal medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. Significant differences were observed among different cultivars and different concentration of BAP and IBA. The BAP and IBA induced the shoot, root and callus proliferation and embryo germination, but it was dependent on genotypes and hormones concentrations. The best performing medium for immature embryos germination was DKW basal medium supplemented with 1 mg L<sup>-1</sup> alone and 1.5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> BAP in conjunction with 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg L<sup>-1</sup> IBA (germination ratio vary between 49.32% and 67.76%). Percent germination of immature embryos was more when BAP and IBA were simultaneously applied as compared to those when applied separately.