This experiment was conducted to identify the annual cycle of ovarian activities and to determine the relationship between ovary size and ovarian activity in sheep. For this purpose, at least five pairs of Sanjabi ewes ovaries were collected each week during the one year of study and after weighing of each ovary, the number and diameter of visible follicles at the ovary surface, the weight and volume of the corpus luteum and the number of ovaries containing corpus luteum were recorded. Data were analyzed using general linear model test. The results showed that there was no significant difference between right and left ovaries of ewes in terms of mean weight, relative frequency of large, medium and small size follicles and the relative frequency of the number of ovaries containing the corpus luteum. There was a significant positive correlation between ovary weight of ewes and their ovarian activities. The highest relative frequency of ovulation in right ovaries were observed in December and in left ovaries were observed in June and December (p < 0.05). The lowest relative frequency of ovulation in the right ovarieswere observed in April, June, August and March and in the left ovaries were observed in April, September and March (p < 0.05). Based on the results, the Sanjabi ewes in Kermanshah region have some reproductive activity in spring which indicates the return of a temporary ovarian activity in this season and it can lead to out-of-season pregnancies.

In order to evaluate the different PHOTOPERIOD and temperature sensitive pre-flowering phases in two cumin landraces a reciprocal transfer experiment from PHOTOPERIOD 8 h to 16 h and vice versa under two different day/ night temperatures 20/10 and 30/20 °C was conducted. Two model including Ellis and Adams were used to analyse the data and to quantify the duration of different developmental phases. The results indicated a high probability for variation in phototermal responses among the cumin landraces of Iran. It was found that PHOTOPERIOD sensitivity in Azarshahr is greater than Mashhad landrace. In addition it was found that temperature affects on the timing of different developmental phases. This is one of the main causes of errors in phonological models. Different behavior of temperature sensitive and insensitive phases provides the possibility of testing the hypothesis about the role of different gene groups in general developmental processes. It was clear that the temperature sensitivity for PHOTOPERIOD genes of Azarshahr landrace is higher than Mashhad landrace. These results would contribute to better understanding of variation in PHOTOPERIOD and temperature sensivity in cumin as well as optimization of phonological models.     

Mediterranian flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella, is a cosmopolitian pest of stored grain products, particularly flour. The development and reproduction of E. kuehniella, were investigated at two PHOTOPERIOD (continuous darkness and 16L: 8D PHOTOPERIOD) under laboratory condition (30± 0. 5 ° C and 50± 5 % RH). The result indicated that egg, larval and pupa development time at continuous darkness and 16L: 8D PHOTOPERIOD were significantly differ. The PHOTOPERIOD affected the emergence pattern and longevity of female and male. The mean number of eggs laid by E. kuehniella at continuous darkness and 16L: 8D PHOTOPERIOD were 160. 54± 28. 67 and 163. 53± 32. 29 respectively but they were not significantly different. These data allow us a better insight into E. kuehniella population dynamics, and these finding can be used to optimize rearing system.

The effect of PHOTOPERIOD and growing degree days (GDD) on dry matter and dry matter partitioning in Jerusalem artichoke was investigated during 2008-09 and 2009-10. Three Jerusalem artichoke genotypes (CN-52867, JA-89 and HEL-65) were planted in 15 day-intervals between with thirteen different dates (September 20 to March 20) at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Jerusalem artichoke genotypes responded differently to varying planting dates for harvest index, shoot dry weight, leaf area, number of tubers and tuber size. Two genotypes, CN-52867 and JA-89, were significantly more productive on the planting date of 20 September and they also performed well on planting dates of 5 October to 20 March. Plant grown in long PHOTOPERIOD with a higher number of GDD produced shoot dry weight rather than greater number of harvestable tubers, while short PHOTOPERIOD induced high partitioning of assimilates to harvestable tubers. Jerusalem artichoke plants grown during short PHOTOPERIOD were smaller and produced larger tubers than those grown during long PHOTOPERIOD. Tuber yield was relatively unchanged across planting dates. Since Jerusalem artichoke during short PHOTOPERIOD had smaller plants, growing Jerusalem artichoke at higher plant population with optimum density is highly recommended to increase tuber yield. The information obtained in this study is extremely important for Jerusalem artichoke production and breeding in the tropical agro-climatic conditions such as Thailand.

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of PHOTOPERIOD and hormones on production of microtubers for two potato cultivars (Sante and Savalan), which were clean and pathogens free. This experiment was performed as a factorial experiment based on randomized design with three replications. The results showed that cultivar, hormone and PHOTOPERIOD would effect on all studied traits. Sante cultivar indicates more efficiency for all measured traits than in Savalan cultivar. In this experiment by using the combination of two hormones 2, 4-D and BAP would increase number, diameter and weight of microtubers. The means comparison of PHOTOPERIOD showed that highest efficiency for all traits as treatment of plant for 8 hours in darkness plus 16 hours in light plus utter darkness (P3). In this research, the highest number of microtuber was related to cultivar of Sante (9.47) is gained with hormone 2, 4-D, as well as PHOTOPERIOD P3 which this superiority for Savalan cultivar is gained by using the combination of two hormones and P3 PHOTOPERIOD.

Introduction: One of the important factors in the adaptation of plants to new environmental conditions is the appropriate response of development stages to temperature and PHOTOPERIOD regimes. The thermal time, growing degree days (GDD) or heat unit concept is commonly the basis for modeling phenological development in crop models for different common crops and under-utilized crops. The GDD concept describes crop development as a function of temperature accumulation above the base temperature (lower limit) and in some cases below a cut off temperature (upper limit). Evaluation of plant PHOTOPERIOD sensitivity is often beneficial help to use appropriate cultivars which in turn to ensure cultivation success. Considering that adaptation of quinoa to new regions demands acclimation to appropriate temperature range also day-length, this study aimed to investigation of quinoa response to Yazd weather condition as an arid region to assess the possibility of quinoa cultivation under these conditions. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted through 10 separate experiments and were based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatment consisted of five lines (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), and one cultivar (Titikaka) which belong to different maturing groups including early, middle and late maturing. Ten planting dates selected to be serial as following: March 29, April 29, May 28, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 6, September 20, January 29, and February 29. Every three days, phenological stages of each line including planting distance to each stage of development including emergence, four leaves, flower bud, panicle formation, pollination, seed filling, seed hardening and ripening were recorded accordingly. Using local weather data and equation 1 the needed GDD for every development stage was calculated: GDD= (Tmax-Tmin)/2-T (1) MS-Excel Ver. 15 was employed to arrange recorded data and required calculating. Fitting equations and plotting the graphs were done using Slide Write Ver. 2 and Minitab Ver. 20 software. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the mean of flowering temperature up to seed formation stage was between 25 and 30 °, C for five lines and was between 20 and 25 °, C in cultivar 6. The mean length of PHOTOPERIOD for flowering and seed formation stage of these lines was between 12 and 12. 5 hours. The relationship between temperature and day length was inversely related to the number of days of flowering stage, i. e., with decreasing day length and increasing temperature, the number of days for flowering stage was increased. The time required for flowering stage, between 20 to 30°,C, for the early maturing cultivar was about 35 days, for the middle maturing lines including 1, 2, 3 and 6 was about 40 days and for the late maturing line 4 was about 45 days. At temperatures higher than 30 °, C, a decreasing trend was observed in the number of days required for flowering stage. From the budding stage to the end of the growth period, a significant difference in the GDD was observed for the quinoa lines. The GDD of quinoa was the highest (2530 °, C) for late maturing line (4) and was the lowest (1805 °, C) for the early maturing cultivar. The effect of planting date on the GDD of quinoa lines showed that moving from March planting date to July, there was an increasing trend on the GDD of quinoa lines and by moving from July planting date to October, a decreasing trend was observed. Conclusions: In general, quinoa is a short-day plant which is affected by the day length from flowering to seed maturity stages. Line 6 responded qualitatively to day length,however, the other lines responses were quantitatively. The study of the simultaneous effect of temperature and day length showed that temperature has a compensatory effect for day length during flowering stage. According to the results, it seems that the most suitable planting date for early lines suggests in September, for middle maturing lines suggests in August and for late maturing lines suggests in August. The results also showed that line 6 is more suitable than other lines for cultivation in cold regions.

Application of doubled haploid method can be used for breeding objectives such ac reduction time of breeding periods. In this research, the effects of PHOTOPERIOD on embryo production from microspore culture of three rapeseed cultivars; Global, Option and PF7045/91 and plantlet regeneration in embryo-derived from microspores were studied in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, embryo production were analyzed from microspores cultured in NLN-13 medium influenced by PHOTOPERIOD treatments were; darkness, 16/8 (light/dark) and alternative daily darkness and 16/8 (light/dark) in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with two factors in 5 replications. The results showed that there were significant differences between two factors and interaction between them on embryogenesis. The numbers of embryos were increased significantly in Global and PF7045/91 cultivars under darkness condition and embryogenesis were laid in group A for this two cultivar. However, the effect of PHOTOPERIOD was not significant on embryogenesis in Option cultivar. In the second experiment, the plant regeneration in embryos-derived from microspores was evaluated in a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with two factors in 10 replications. Cultivar contain Global, Option and PF7045/91 and embryo-derived from microspores under darkness and 16/8 (light/dark) were first and second factor, respectively. The results indicated that only the cultivars had significant differences. The results also indicated PF7045/91 cultivar had the highest plantlet regeneration and was set in group A.

The present study was carried out in 2001 to understand the effects of PHOTOPERIOD on feeding in juvenile ship sturgeon, an essential species for culture and stock enhancement. The ship sturgeon specimens belonged to the age classes of 41,48,55,62 days. Some 6 aquaria were used for this study (3 in ambient light and 3 in dark condition, each containing 30 specimens). Juvenile ship sturgeon was fed by daphnia at 50% of their biomass. Water temperature varied between 21.5- 22.7oC and the dissolved oxygen between 6.2- 7.8 mg.l-1. The average weight of fish in the beginning of the experiment (41 days old juvenile) was 1.1 ±0.02 and 1.2 ±0.01 at light and dark condition and by the end of the experiment (day 62) juvenile ship sturgeon reached 3.4 ± 0.02 and 4.8±0.03 gr respectively. There were no significant statistical differences between juvenile fish in the beginning of the experiment but at in the day 48, 55 and 62 (termination of the experiment) significant statistical differences were observed at 95% confidence level between fish kept in ambient and dark condition (p<0.05). The study showed uptake was higher at dark condition as compared to light condition. Growth rate of juvenile fish was 4.7% and 5.5% at light and dark condition respectively. According to our study it seems that maintenance and feeding sturgeon fish under complete dark condition following early rearing period in Vniro tanks would shorten the rearing period though further studies are suggested in this regard.

This study provides information on the effect of three light intensities (37.5, 62.5 and 100 mmol photons.m-2 S-1) and PHOTOPERIODs (light: dark) cycle 8:16, 12:12 and 16:8h ongrowth rate, duplication time and biomass production in microalga Chlorella vulgaris. Stock of C. vulgaris was separated from water samples taken at Anzali Wetland, purified and cultured in 1000ml Erlenmeyer at constant temperature 25±0.5oC, using Zehnder medium. Cell count was conducted daily and biomass was measured at the exponential growth phase in different treatments. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference (P<0.05) among light regimes. The maximum growth rate 1.13d-1 was observed at 100mmol photons. M-2 S-1 and 16:8h light duration and also the minimum duplication time 0.61d-1 occurred at this treatment. The maximum biomass 2.05gl-1 was recorded at 62.5mmol photons.m-2 S -1 and8: 16h light period.