Increasing drought tolerance is one of the important breeding objectives. In order to evaluate the role of morphological TRAITS on drought tolerance in cotton an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of three soil moisture potentials (-1,-4 and -8 bars) and four cotton genotypes (Bolghare 334 of syndoze 80 as tolerant, and Narabrai and H.A.R as sensitive).There was 3 replications and 4 samplings at squaring, flowering, boiling and boil opening (harvest) growth stages. The experiment was conducted in a green house of Gorgan university of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Measurements were leaf temperature, plant height, node number, leaf number, the number of vegetative and reproductive branches, specific leaf area, and dry weight of aerial organs. Results showed that drought stress increases leaf temperature, but decreases stem height. Drought stress had no effect on the number of vegetative and reproductive branches Leaf number, leaf area and dry weight of aerial organs (leaf, stem, shoot) decreased by drought stress. Tolerant genotypes had greater plant height, node number, and leaf number and area compared to sensitive genotypes. In general, a collection of TRAITS that were less affected by drought stress in both tolerant and sensitive genotypes can be used in breeding programs with the objective of enhanced drought tolerance.

To evaluate the drought tolerance of lentil by MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS, 10 lentil lines were planted in randomized complete design with 3 replications under non-stress and drought stress conditions in agricultural station of Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran in 2016. Grain yield, plant height, number of pods and 1000 kernels weight, leaf relative water content, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes and cell membrane stability were measured. Results showed that differences among genotypes were significant in all of TRAITS except for relative water content and CAT activity (under non-stress). Under drought, ILL-10088, ILL-10053 and Bilesavar, with 1244, 1153 and 1107 kg/ha and under non stress condition, ILL-10088, with 1905 kg/ha had the highest yield. Considering the yield of cultivars in two environments, ILL-10088, BileSavar, ILL-10017 and ILL-468 were the most tolerant cultivars. Results showed that under drought, grain yield had significant correlations with catalase activity, relative water content and cell membrane stability. Under non-stress condition, yield had significant correlations with relative water content, cell membrane stability, 1000 kernels weight and number of fertile pods. In regression analysis, using stepwise method, under stress, relative content remained in model. However, under non-stress condition, relative water content and cell membrane stability remained in model. Principle component analysis could separate susceptible cultivars from tolerant cultivars better than cluster analysis. Regarding to the presence of genetic diversity, ease of use and strong relations with yield, relative water content and cell membrane stability were proposed as indirect criteria for selection of drought tolerance in lentil.

IntroductionToday, one of the most important environmental stresses that become a great threat to agricultural activities around the world is soil salinity. The salinity issue is more in arid and semi-arid climate finding hardy plants should be a priority. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity stress on morphophysiological and biochemical TRAITS of some accesions of ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum L.). Materials and MethodsIn this study, the effects of salinity stress on two levels (control and 100 mM NaCl) as the first factor and 10 accesions of ajwain (Shiraz, Isfahan, Hamedan, Zahedan, Tabriz, Mashhad 1, Mashhad 2, Yazd, Ahvaz, Arak) as the second factor as factorial and the basis of a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications (n =3) were evaluated in the research greenhouse of Department of Medicinal Plants of Arak University in pot conditions in 2019. In each experimental unit, a few seeds were sown, after emergence; additional seedlings were thinned to prevent competition, so that in each pot, finally, four strongest and uniform seedlings were kept. Until the seedlings reached 8-10 leaves, salinity treatment was done by irrigation with 500 ml of 100 mM NaCl solution. Plants were sampled and harvested to study the morphophysiological and biochemical traites of T.copticum L. in the flowering stage. The obtained data were statistically tested by analysis of variance (GLM) using SAS software Version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA, 1990). Duncan’s new multi range test was applied for means comparison and significant differences among employed treatments at P <0.05 and 0.01 using SPSS software Version 16 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). The parameters, including minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated. In order to identify some of the main factors to reduce the number of effective TRAITS in differentiating populations, principal component analysis (PCA) was used. In order to have a simple structure and better interpretation of the results of the analysis, the data was rotated by Varimax procedure. Also, the two- dimensional plot was generated using the first and second principal components (PC1and PC2) with PAST software. Results and DiscussionThe results showed that salinity caused a significant decrease in plant height, fresh weight of aerial parts, dry weight of aerial parts and relative water content, while salinity caused a significant increase in leakage of electrolytes, phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. Salinity stress had no effect on the content of photosynthetic pigments including chlorophyll a, b, total, and carotenoids. The highest height and fresh weight were related to the populations of Hamedan and Mashhad 1, respectively. Also, the lowest mean value of height and fresh weight was related to Arak population. No significant difference was observed among the investigated populations in any of the physiological TRAITS, and only significant difference was observed in the antioxidant capacity, the highest of which was related to the population of Arak and the lowest was related to the population of Mashhad 1. The interaction between population and salinity was not significant in any of the TRAITS. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA), the highest value of standard deviation was related to the flavonoid and the lowest value of the standard deviation was related to the trait of total dry weight of aerial parts. ConclusionSalinity negatively affects the growth and physiological responses of the plants. The results also showed that ajwain is classified as a relatively salt tolerant species, although there are significant differences between its accesions.

For assessment the effects of salinity on morphophysiological TRAITS of wheat an experiment with four caltivars (Karchia, Sorkh tokhm, Sholeh and Roshan) and one line (1-66-22) in four salt concentrations (0, 60, 120, and 180mM NaCl), were conducted by factorial analysis in a completely randomized design with three replications. The rates of leaf area were measured in four stages. In booting stage, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD meter), and in pollination phase the rate of Na+ and K+ iones in four leaves (up to down) were assessed and finally stem length and total dry matter were measured. Results showed that salinity reduced leaf area, total dry matter stem length of plants and relative chlorophyll content. With increasing of salinity the rate of Na+ were increased but the rate of K+ iones were decreased. Also the salt exclusion was observed at nodes of stem that of 1-66-22 was spot form.

In order to evaluate the effect of different irrigation intervals on some morphophysiological TRAITS of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions during 2009. The experiment was based on a randomized completely design with three replications. Treatments included four irrigation intervals with 4, 8, 12 and16 days intervals and two ecotypes of sesame (Kalat and Se-ghaleh). The results showed that there were significant differences in plant height, node number, internodes length, capsule number, capsule weight and shoot dry weight between irrigation intervals. With increasing irrigation intervals, the mentioned TRAITS decreased. Se-ghaleh was more drought tolerant than Kalate ecotype. Interaction between irrigation intervals and ecotypes showed that, the best treatment related to four days irrigation interval and Se-ghaleh ecotype. The effect of irrigation intervals on surface area, diameter, total length, volume and dry weight of root was significant. In all irrigation intervals, Se-ghaleh showed better performance. The results showed that increased irrigation interval caused a decreasing in root surface area, but increasing in total root length. With increasing irrigation interval, transpiration and photosynthesis rates significantly decreased. It was concluded that increasing irrigation interval up to 12 days decreased shoot and root surface areas. The Se-ghaleh ecotype was more drought tolerance than Kalat.

Heavy metal stress is one of the most important factors limiting the growth and yield of plants in many parts of the world. The fungus Piriformospora indica, as a mycorrhizal endophytic fungus, stimulates the growth of many plant species and also increases the resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. In this research, the interaction effect of P. indica and Cd on germination of fenugreek, also the interaction effect of P. indica and Cd in soil system were investigated on morphophysiological TRAITS of fenugreek according to a factorial experiment based on completely randomize design (CRD) with 3 replication in two independent experiments. The results of interaction effect of P. indica and Cd on germination of fenugreek showed that Cd stress may give to plants allows germination, but increased in their concentration impaired the some seed germination indices of fenugreek. Also the results of the interaction effect of P. indica and Cd in soil culture showed that Cd stress reduced the most of measured morphological TRAITS mean and increased the most of enzyme studied in fenugreek. According to these results, it seems that the fungus in addition to colonization of fenugreek also has an effect on its improvement in Cd stress.

Salinity stress is one of the most important environmental stresses that affect plant growth. The most effective solution for managing salinity is to identify and select salinity-tolerant cultivars and use them in areas with saline soils. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity stress on changes in MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS of 109 accessions of Aegilops tauschii collected from different regions of the world, along with two check cultivars, Arg (salinity tolerant) and Darya (salinity sensitive). For this purpose, a factorial experiment with two levels of salinity (zero and 300 mM NaCl) as the first factor, and 111 genotypes (109 accessions and two check cultivars) as the second factor was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. After salt stress treatment, some MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS were measured and the results were analyzed. Analysis of variance results showed that the studied accessions differed significally from each other (p≤0. 01) in terms of all TRAITS (shoot and root sodium, shoot and root potassium, shoot potassium to sodium ratio, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot fresh and dry biomass, and root fresh and dry biomass), except for the root potassium to sodium ratio. The effect of salinity stress on the aforementioned TRAITS also was significant (p ≤ 0. 01), except for root potassium. In total, some accessions collected from Iran, Georgia, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan showed acceptable performance in terms of the studied TRAITS under salt stress conditions, when compared to the resistant check cultivar Arg. In addition, the dendrogram obtained from the cluster analysis and the survey of subgroup averages showed that the accessions collected from Iran, Georgia, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan had greater resistance and tolerance to salinity stress.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and select bread wheat cultivars by assessing the yield, yield components and some physiological TRAITS under drought stress conditions. Six cultivars were evaluated as sub-plots in 2018 to 2020 cropping seasons using a split plot design based on RCBD with three replicates. The Main plot covered the three irrigation regimes including normal irrigation (non-drought stress), terminal drought stress (irrigation up to boot- stage as moderate drought stress) and full drought stress (dryland). The results revealed that a significant reduction of the plant height (3.37 and 6.88%), fertile tillers number (19.39 and 22.72%), seeds number per spike (7.76 and 15.76%), seed weight per spike (6.38 and 7.86) and grain yield (7.66 and 15.29%) were recorded under the moderate drought stress and full drought stress, respectively as compared to non-stress conditions. Also moderate drought stress and full drought significantly increased the proline content (26.45 and 45.71%, respectively) and polyphenol oxidase (13.09 and 20.81%, respectively). Tektaz, Tirgan and Aftab cultivars had the highest water use efficiency and the water use efficiency increased under drought stress conditions. In general, the results showed that the wheat cultivars ‘Taktaz’ showed the highest yield potential followed by the Tirgan in both non-stress and moderate drought stress conditions and in moderate drought stress and full drought stress, Tektaz and Aftab cultivars were superior in terms of investigated TRAITS and with regard to the higher tolerance of the cultivars to drought stress, the use of these cultivars in areas with limited humidity deserves long-term research with more details.

Plastic mulches play an important role in reducing water consumption. An experiment was conducted at Research Greenhouse, Razi University, Iran. The experiment was a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications. Plants used for testing were barley and oat. Treatments included control (without plastic mulch), transparent plastic mulch with half coverage and plastic mulch with almost full coverage. This study aimed at determining the percentage of the plastic cover that had the highest dry matter production and water use efficiency. Results showed that treatment of plastic mulch with almost full coverage had the lowest water consumption and the treatment without the plastic mulch had the highest water consumption. The treatment of barley with full coverage had a water-saving of almost 40 percent compared to control. Water use efficiencies for both plants treated with almost full coverage were highest among treatments. There was no significant difference between plastic mulch treatments in terms of leaf relative water content, fresh and dry weight of stem, fresh and dry weight of leaves, plant height, and leaf area in oat and barley. In this way, by applying a coating on the soil surface and preventing the loss of soil moisture, water consumption can be significantly reduced, while the dry matter produced is not reduced.