Jamal-Ali Olfati

The most widely cultivated species globally is Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’. However, in recent years, consumers have shown greater demand for new varieties with novel flesh colour, flavour and appearance in international markets. To meet these expectations, one breeding study was started in 2016 at the University of Guilan in Iran to develop new kiwifruit cultivars with superior characteristics. In this breeding program, 201 female and 534 male hybrid genotypes were obtained from combinations of six different parents using the controlled cross-breeding technique. The evaluations were carried out over three consecutive stages. In the first stage, 201 female hybrid genotypes and control (‘Golden’) were evaluated based on 25 phenological and pomological traits. In the second stage, hybrids passed the desired threshold values in 7 key attributes were selected. Sensory testing in the next stage evaluated these selected hybrid genotypes more. As a result of the first stage, 30 hybrid genotypes with fruit weight (90 ≥ g) were selected. Then, in the second stage, 21 hybrids that showed acceptable dry matter, hue angle, flesh firmness, soluble solid content, acidity, and ascorbic acid were selected. Finally, 13 hybrid genotypes received high scores in sensory testing, and just two hybrid genotypes represented a 100% of novelty with positive texture. These genotypes were selected as potential cultivar candidates. In future studies, fruit yield, disease/pest resistance, and post-harvest performance trials of the 13 selected candidates will be evaluated at different sites. Thus, the ones that give the best results will be introduced to kiwifruit growers.

Important quality components of red-fleshed kiwifruit which was grown in three different regions in North of Iran were investigated in this research. Fruits produced in the region with higher altitude and cool summer temperatures showed higher ascorbic acid content (AAC), total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity than the two other regions both at harvest time and storage. It was observed that the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl was positively correlated with the AAC (r = 0.98), total phenolic content (r = 0.94), and the ferric reducing antioxidant power was positively correlated with the AAC (r = 0.98), TPC (r = 0.93). Fruits harvested in region 2 with cool environments, presented dark red flesh color with the highest values of anthocyanin content at harvest (2.78 mg CGE/100 g), with a gradually increasing trend during storage to reach 3.47 mg CGE/100 g at the end of storage. Total anthocyanin content correlated positively with soluble solids content (SSC; r = 0.82), total Soluble sugars (TSS; r = 0.94), pH (r = 0.94), SSC/titratable acidity (TA; r = 0.83) and negatively with TA (r = −0.77). Fruits grown in region 2 received the highest SCC and TSS scores after sensory test evaluations made by the panelists. During storage fruits firmness and total acidity of kiwifruit decreased while SSC, TSS, and anthocyanin content increased. Additionally, antioxidant compounds and taste-related quality of kiwifruit had a positive relationship with the product region. Results showed that the growing region and storage duration considerably influenced the antioxidant compounds and nutritional quality of red flesh kiwifruit.

Water stress is by far the most serious limiting factor to tomato (Solanum lycopersicom) production, particularly in Iran where located in arid and semi-arid regions. Silicon (Si) is considered an effective element to mitigate the adverse effects of water stress by promoting plant growth and production. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the foliar application of Si (0, 100, and 200 mg L–1) and three water regimes – no stress (100), mild stress (80%), and severe stress (60%) – on the growth parameters, the yield, and the fruit quality as well as antioxidant status of the tomato. The imposed water stress significantly increased the total soluble solids (TSS), the total acidity (TA), and the flavonoids as well as antioxidant defense parameters such as catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX), while the growth parameters (plant height and leaf number) and tomato yield were decreased. In contrast, the foliar application of Si (200 mg L–1) remarkably improved the total yield of tomatoes when exposed to water stress by improving the antioxidant enzyme activities and total flavonoid compounds. In addition, the application of Si could significantly improve the growth parameters (plant height and leaf number) and fruit quality (fruit firmness and size). As a result, the foliar application of Si could be suggested as an effective strategy for imparting water stress resistance in the tomato.

Fruit shape index (round shape) and seed size have important effects on pumpkin yield. To investigate these traits and create the most desirable state, a cross was made between two pumpkin cultivars. The objective of this study was to estimate the main gene effects (additive, dominant and di-genic epistasis) and to determine the mode of inheritance for fruit shape and seed size by generation mean analysis. Six generations, namely P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁, and BC₂ from a cross between Zucchini and hull-less seed Pumpkin, S10×P25, were constructed and evaluated for fruit length, fruit width, fruit shape index, and some seed-related traits (seed length, seed width, seed thickness). The experiment was conducted in the research field of the Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran in 2019. Results showed a significant difference between generations in terms of fruit and seed traits. Scale and joint scale tests showed the presence of epistasis for some traits. According to the results of the average traits of different generations, standard heterosis and hetrobeltiosis were observed. Concerning the fruit shape index and seed width, there was an over-dominance effect. The broad-sense heritability of the traits was relatively high for all traits and between 52 and 92%. Narrow sense heritability was between 26 and 86% and relatively low for the fruit shape index and seed width. Therefore, selection of elite lines and production of their hybrids are recommended as two methods suitable for breeding to achieve the round shape index and larger seed size.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed is imported to Iran. A breeding program is needed locally to select elite lines. Factor analysis is a useful tool for investigating variable relationships for complex factors because it allows investigation of concepts that are not easily measured directly by collapsing a large number of variables into a few interpretable underlying factors. Forty genotypes, representing hybrids of commercial cucumber, cv. Negeen, and lines B₁₀ and B₁₂, developed locally, were used in the experiment at Rasht, Iran. Factor analysis, based on principal component analysis and varimax rotation, indicated the factors yield, major yield contributing factors, fruit quality, fruit firmness, and vegetative factors accounted for 66.5% of total variation. Genotypes positioned near the commercial cultivar in scatter diagrams were acceptable because they had high yield, and major yield contributing factors, and good fruit quality. If gynociouse and parthenocarpic lines are not available germplasm can be selected from progenies of commercial hybrids and local lines with a simple factor analysis.

The storage life of mushrooms is less than the other vegetables due mainly to high water contents and a porous and thin epidermal structure. This research was aimed at obtaining a suitable compost combination and an optimal condition of maintenance for increase the storage life of button mushroom. The experimental factors consisted ...