Behrooz Sarabi

The expansion of various industries has led to water and soil pollution with heavy metals, severely restricting the cultivation of many crops. Arsenic is a heavy metal with numerous adverse effects on human health. One effective strategy to reduce the absorption of heavy metals, such as arsenic, is the addition of organic materials like vermicompost to the soil. To investigate the impact of vermicompost on arsenic absorption in Thymus vulgaris, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design. The experiment consisted of two factors: the first factor was the level of vermicompost (0, 100, and 200 g/kg soil), and the second factor was the concentration of arsenic (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg soil). The measured traits included various morphological, functional, physiological, and phytochemical characteristics. Among morphological and yield-attributed traits several traits such as plant height, length of internode, plant dry weight, stem dry weight, root length, root volume and root dry weight were significantly influenced by different levels of arsenic. Root length, and essential oil content were significantly affected by different levels of vermicompost. Interaction effect arsenic and vermicompost had a significant effect only on length of internode and root volume. The lowest plant dry weight (7.24 g), leaf dry weight (2.96 g), stem dry weight (4.28 g), and root length (23.78 cm) were obtained in the treatment with 600 mg of arsenic. The highest (1.43 % v/w) and lowest (0.97 % v/w) essential oil contents were obtained in the 100 g vermicompost and control treatments, respectively. The variance analysis of biochemical traits revealed that different levels of arsenic did not significantly affect chlorophyll and carotenoid content, but had a significant impact on hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents. Different levels of vermicompost, as well as the interaction between arsenic and vermicompost, did not show a significant effect on any of the measured biochemical traits. Different levels of arsenic significantly influenced the amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and arsenic in plants. Different levels of vermicompost significantly affected only the arsenic content. Additionally, the interaction between arsenic and vermicompost levels had a significant impact on the amounts of phosphorus and arsenic in the plants. The effect of arsenic on phosphorus levels in plants varied with different amounts of vermicompost. The lowest arsenic content was observed in the treatment with 200 g of vermicompost, while the highest arsenic content was found in the treatment with no vermicompost. Increasing the amount of arsenic in the culture bed significantly raised the nitrogen content of the plants. The amount of potassium in plants increased significantly by increasing the amount of arsenic in the culture media up to 20 mg. However, further increasing of arsenic concentration from 20 to 30 mg resulted in a decrease in phosphorus level in the plants. The number, type and amount of identified compounds were different in applied treatments. The dominant compounds in the essential oil varied depending on the treatment, but generally, β-cymene, thymol, γ-terpinene, cis-sabinenehydrate, and carvacrol were the main components in most treatments. The positive correlations between γ-terpinene, borneol, and trans-caryophyllene with arsenic content, and also the negative correlations between cis-sabinenehydrate, cadinene, and caryophyllene oxide with arsenic were observed. No significant correlation was observed between vermicompost content and essential oil components. Overall, arsenic had adverse effects on the growth of T. vulgaris, but the addition of vermicompost helped mitigate these adverse impacts. Consequently, vermicompost can be beneficial for enhancing the growth and phytochemical characteristics of plants in arsenic-contaminated soils by improving the physicochemical conditions of the soil.

To investigate the effects of shading, irrigation regime, and fulvic acid on the growth and some physiological and biochemical traits of rocket (Eruca sativa Miller) under hydroponic cultivation in greenhouse conditions, an experiment was conducted in 2022 as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three factors: shading (control, 50%, and 80% shade), irrigation regime (solution application every day, every other day, and every third day), and fulvic acid application at three levels (control, 1, and 2 g/L) with four replications, each replication including 8 plants, in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan. The results showed that the main effects (irrigation, fulvic acid, and shading) and two-way interactions significantly affected shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, relative water content, cell membrane stability, malondialdehyde, soluble carbohydrates, proline, peroxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, total phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, antioxidant capacity, mineral element content (nitrate, phosphorus, iron, and potassium), total soluble protein, and photosystem II efficiency (Fv/fm). The three-way interactions also significantly affected iron content in rocket plants. The highest shoot and root fresh and dry weights were obtained with the application of 2 g/L fulvic acid under non-shaded conditions. With increasing water stress and fulvic acid concentration, relative water content, chlorophyll a and b, total phenols, carotenoids, antioxidant capacity, and vitamin C increased compared to the control treatment. Cell membrane stability and malondialdehyde were highest under the control solution application, 2 g/L fulvic acid application, and 50% shade conditions. Peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity increased under the one-day-interval solution application and 2 g/L fulvic acid application and decreased under 80% shade conditions. Phosphorus, potassium, and total soluble protein were higher in the one-day-interval solution application, 2 g/L fulvic acid application, and 50% shade treatments compared to the control. Since a clear relationship was observed between the measured physiological and morphological traits and the level of fulvic acid application, it can be concluded that the use of fulvic acid can be very beneficial for improving the growth and development of rocket salad plants.

Lemon verbena, scientifically named Aloysia citriodora Palau, is an important plant in the Verbenaceae family. It's essential oil is widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries and its leaves are commonly used as a spice and in tea. The biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants is influenced by genetics and environmental factors, particularly light. Therefore, optimizing growth conditions is necessary to achieve the most desirable quantity and quality of the active compounds. For this purpose, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different spectrums of supplementary light on the functional, physiological, and phytochemical characteristics of lemon verbena under greenhouse conditions at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan. The experiment included seven treatments: no supplementary light (Control), 100% white (W100), 100% blue (B100), 100% red (R100), 50% blue + 50% red (B50/R50), 70% blue + 30% red (B70/R30), and 30% blue + 70% red (B30/R70). This research was based on a completely randomized design with three replications, and the light intensity was set at 200 μmol/m2/s in all treatments. The results of the variance analysis indicated that the growth and functional characteristics of lemon verbena were significantly affected by the different light spectrums. Most of the measured traits were significantly influenced by the applied treatments at p≤0.01. The mean comparison of data indicated that the maximum leaf length (7.78 cm), leaf width (2.05 cm), stem length (89.33 cm), leaf fresh weight (18.86 g), stem fresh weight (18.15 g), stem dry weight (8.36 g), and leaf area (10.69 cm²) were observed in the B30/R70 treatment. The highest number of leaves (646) and leaf dry weight (9.84 g) were recorded in the R100 treatment. The highest root fresh weight (14.44 g) and root dry weight (5.96 g) were obtained in the B100 treatment. The longest root length (32.73 cm) was achieved in the B50/R50 treatment, while the highest harvest index (62.8%) was obtained in the control treatment. On the other hand, the highest contents of chlorophyll a, b, and total (0.53, 0.17, and 0.70 mg/g F.W., respectively) as well as carotenoids (3.19 mg/g F.W.) were observed in the control and B30/R70 treatments, with no statistically significant differences between these two treatments. The highest antioxidant potential (53.45%), phenol content (0.62 mg GA/g F.W.), flavonoid (0.53 mg CA/g F.W.), carbohydrate (24 8.8 mg G/g F.W.) and protein (9.96 mg BA/g F.W.) were observed in B30/R70, B100, R100, W100 and B50/R50 treatments, respectively. The highest essential oil content (1.06%) was found in the W100 treatment, which increased by 70.96% compared to the control treatment. 30 compounds (in the control treatment) to 37 compounds (in the R100 and B100 treatments) were identified in the essential oil, which accounted for 100% of the total essential oil. The dominant components of the essential oil were the same in all the treatments, including limonene, 1,8-cineole, neral, citral, α-amorphene and calarene. The highest amount of limonene (9.81 %), 1,8-cineole (2.27 %), neral (25 %), citral (37.54 %), α-amorphene (6.87 %) and calarene (9.69 % ) were observed in B70/R30, control, W100 and control, W100, B30/R70 and R100 treatments, respectively. Finally, according to the above results and based on the most important traits, including dry matter yield, essential oil content and its most important components (limonene, neral and citral), the B30/R70, W100 and B70/R30 were determined as the most desirable spectra.

In light of the significant importance of vegetables in terms of dietary consumption and the increasing pollution of soil and water resources with heavy metals over recent decades, which has led to a decline in the quantity and quality of agricultural products and poses risks to human health, this research was conducted to mitigate the negative effects of arsenic pollution using graphene oxide and glycine betaine on fenugreek plants (Trigonella foenum-graecum). The study was carried out in a factorial design based on a completely randomized design with three replications (each replication consisting of three pots, and each pot containing ten plants) in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Kurdistan. The experimental factors included arsenic (0 and 50 mg per kg of soil), application of glycine betaine (50 and 100 mg per liter), graphene oxide nanoparticles (50 and 100 mg per liter), and glycine betaine-graphene oxide nanoparticles (50 and 100 mg per liter). Additionally, there were control groups with no glycine betaine or graphene oxide nanoparticles. Growth characteristics, including yield, fresh and dry root weight, dry shoot weight, physiological and biochemical traits such as relative water content, color indices, membrane stability index, proline, photosynthetic pigments, total carbohydrates, antioxidant activity, total phenol, flavonoids, vitamin C, and enzyme activities (catalase and peroxidase), were evaluated. The results indicated that arsenic stress led to a reduction in yield, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, leaf color indices (L* and a*), carbohydrates, relative water content, membrane stability index, and macro and microelement contents. However, it increased antioxidant activity, proline content, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes activities, color index (b*), and arsenic concentration (P < 0.01). Based on the obtained data, the application of graphene oxide and glycine betaine could mitigate the negative effects of arsenic by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and reducing oxidative damage. Among the treatments, the use of 50 mg per liter of graphene oxide-glycine betaine showed the best performance.

Consumption of vegetables is very important for human health. The increase in heavy metal contamination of soil and water in recent decades has resulted in a reduction in crop yield and quality, as well as a risk to human health. In this context, the use of organic fertilizers is suggested in order to prevent the harmful effects of heavy metal pollution. The current study was designed with the aim of investigating the effect of organic fertilizers on the growth, yield, physiological and biochemical traits of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under arsenic stress. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design in three replications in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan. The experimental treatments include arsenic (0, 25 and 50 mg/kg soil), biochar (30% w/w), vermicompost (25% w/w), vermicompost tea (5 cc per liter) and seaweed extract (5 cc per liter). According to the obtained results, the stress caused by arsenic causes a decrease in yield, dry and wet weight of roots, dry weight of aerial parts, content of photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, relative water content, membrane stability index, proline, enzyme activities (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase), phenol, flavonoid, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content (P<0.01). Malondialdehyde and arsenic content of plants under arsenic stress increased. While the use of organic fertilizers by reducing the oxidative damage led to the reduction of the effects of arsenic stress on fenugreek plant growth. The use of vermicompost (25% w/w) showed the best efficiency among other organic fertilizers. Based on the obtained results, the use of organic fertilizers is suggested in order to reduce the harmful effects of soil contamination with arsenic in fenugreek cultivation.

این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تأثیر لامپ های LED بر برخی خصوصیات میوه توت فرنگی رقم کاماروسا در شرایط کشت بدون خاک انجام شد. این مطالعه در زمستان 1399 و بهار 1400 در گلخانه ی تحقیقاتی دانشگاه کردستان انجام شد. در این مطالعه، تأثیر تیمارهای نوری بر برخی خصوصیات گیاه توت فرنگی در 7 تیمار و 4 تکرار انجام شد. آزمایش بر پایه طرح کاملاً تصادفی انجام شد. صفات اندازه گیری شده شامل تعداد برگ و طوقه، وزن خشک برگ و طوقه، مواد جامد محلول، محتوای کلروفیل و کاروتنوئید، کربوهیدرات های محلول میوه و برگ، حجم ریشه، سفتی بافت میوه، اسیدیته، pH، فنل کل، فلاونوئید، آنتوسیانین، ویتامین ث، فعالیت آنتی اکسیدانی، نیترات میوه، برگ و ریشه، شاخص رنگ میوه بودند. نتایج نشان داد که تیمار نوردهی بر تعداد برگ اثر معنادار داشته (01/0>P) اما بر تعداد طوقه تأثیر معنادار نداشت. همچنین تیمار نوردهی بر وزن خشک برگ و بر حجم ریشه اثر معنادار داشته (05/0>P) اما بر وزن خشک طوقه اثر معناداری نداشت. تیمار نوردهی اثر معنادار بر مواد جامد محلول داشته (01/0>P) اما بر فعالیت آنتی اکسیدانی توت فرنگی اثر معنادار نداشت. به طور کلی، نتایج این پژوهش نشان داد که نوردهی با LED در شرایط کشت بدون خاک، اثرگذاری مثبتی بر بیشتر خصوصیات مورد مطالعه میوه توت فرنگی رقم کاماروسا داشت. بیشتر خصوصیات رویشی، فیزیولوژیکی و بیوشیمیایی توت فرنگی رقم کاماروسا در شرایط کشت بدون خاک تحت تأثیر نورهای ترکیبی قرمز و آبی بهبود پیدا می کنند و در این میان نور ترکیبی 25% نور آبی + نور قرمز 75% اثرگذاری بیشتری داشت و شرایط رویشی و کیفی توت فرنگی رقم کاماروسا را بهبود بخشید.

Pre-harvest factors are effective on product quality and affect postharvest shelf life. Nutrition is one of the factors affecting the quality and storability of products. Silica element is considered as one of the useful nutritional elements for plants. Therefore, in the present study the effect of pre-harvest treatment of silica on postharvest quality of Rocket leaf vegetable (Eruca sativa (Mill.) Thell.) was studied. The seeds were cultivated in boxes (10 x 25 x 35) containing a mixture of perlite (50%) and cocopeat (50%) in the research greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan in June, 2021. The experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design for pre-harvest and factorial (with two factors) experiment based on completely randomized design for postharvest with three replications. The first factor was silica at three levels (0, 5 and 10 mM) and the second factor was storage times in cold storage at four levels (harvest time, 4, 7 and 10 days after storage). Silica (0, 5 and 10 mM) was added to Hoagland's nutrient solution after the establishment of plants (ten days after seed cultivation) on a daily basis until the end of the experiment. Fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, total yield, leaf nitrate content were measured for harvest time and weight loss, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, color index, total soluble carbohydrate, total phenol, flavonoid and vitamin C were measured during storage at 4 ˚C. The results showed that silica (10 mM) had a greater effect on the growth rate of roots, stems and leaves and their fresh and dry weight. The increase of silica decreased the accumulation of nitrate in the leaves. The effect of this fertilizer on the plant after harvest was investigated and it was observed that the treatment of 10 mM silica had a positive effect compared to the treatment of 5 mM silica and the control. Soluble carbohydrates, chlorophyll content, weight, vitamin C were well preserved in silica treatments during the storage period. In general, the application of silica fertilizers as pre-harvest nutrition can be used to decrease leaf nitrate content while increase the quality and shelf life of Rocket leaf during storage.

منداب با نام علمی(Eruca sativa L.) ، گیاهی یکساله متعلق به خانواده شب بو Brassicaceae) است. که به طور سنتی در منطقه مدیترانه رشد می کند. خاستگاه آن جنوب اروپا و غرب آسیا می باشد. دارای خواص تغذیه ای عالی، مقدار زیادی گلوکوزینولات ها، عناصر معدنی و ویتامین C می باشد و همچنین محرک معجزه آسایی برای معده است و همچنین خواص ضد سرطانی، محافظت از کبد، ضد التهابی و درمان زخم معده نیز برای آن گزارش شده است. اگر چه این گیاه در بعضی مناطق به عنوان یک علف هرز شناخته شده، ولی به دلیل کاربرد های گوناگون مانند استفاده های مختلف دارویی، علوفه علوفه ای و سالادی و همچنین داشتن صفات با ارزشی مانند رشد رویشی سریع، مقاومت مناسب در برابر تنش های زنده و غیر زنده و تنوع ژنتیکی بالا به ویژه در سال های اخیر مورد توجه قرار گرفته است . امروزه استفاده از کودهای آلی و زیستی به عنوان مطلوب ترین راه حل برای جایگزینی یا کاهش قابل ملاحظه کودهای شیمیایی در سیستم های کشاورزی پایدار و ارگانیک در جهت حفظ حاصلخیزی خاک و تولید سالم و پایدار محصولات کشاورزی و نیز حفظ سلامت محیط زیست و جامعه انسانی مورد توجه می باشد. از این رو استفاده از کودهای آلی و زیستی نظیر کود دامی، ورمی کمپوست و باکتریهای تثبیت کننده نیتروژن و حل کننده پتاسیم و فسفات در کشاورزی پایدار، علاوه بر افزایش جمعیت و فعالیت میکروارگانیزم های مفید خاک در جهت فراهمی عناصر غذایی مورد نیاز گیاه مانند نیتروژن، فسفر و پتاسیم عمل نموده و سبب بهبود رشد و عملکرد گیاهان زراعی می شود. همچنین از آنجا که رویکرد جهانی در تولید گیاهان به سمت بهبود کیفیت و سلامت ماده مؤثره می باشد، لذا به نظر می رسد که تغذیه سالم این گیاهان از طریق کاربرد کودهای آلی و زیستی دارای بیشترین تطابق با اهداف تولید محصولات و گیاهان سالم باشد و منجر به بهبود عملکرد کمی و کیفی آنها گردد.