Introduction: Intercropping is one of the best methods to increase forage production and improve quality. Selecting suitable plants for intercropping is critical to increasing crop production, improving yield quality, intensifying radiation capture, building biodiversity and finally, enhancing the productivity of the agroecosystem. Intercropping with cereals and legumes is an ecological strategy for improving quality and increasing yield. Maize (Zea mays) is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, which could produce high amounts of forage with high palatability and digestibility and low levels of protein. SESBANIA (SESBANIA sesban) is a legume with high protein quality and good digestibility that could boost forage production. This plant species is known as a forage crop tolerant to salt stress with a high adaptability to tropical regions. Intercropping SESBANIA and maize could produce high quality forage under tropical conditions. This research was conducted in order to evaluate the intercropping effects of maize and SESBANIA on forage yield and quality. Materials and methods: This experiment was performed using a randomized complete block design with three replications in a research field at Jiroft University. Experimental treatments included different ratios of replacement intercropping series (25: 75, 33: 67, 50: 50, 67: 33, 75: 25), maize sole cropping and SESBANIA sole cropping. Plant density of sole cropping of maize and SESBANIA was 25 plants per m2. Evaluated traits were forage yield, crude protein, ash, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and land equivalent ratio (LER). Results and discussion: The results showed intercropping had significant (p<0. 01) effects on dry forage yield and its quality. The highest dry forage yield of maize (15, 208kg/ha) was observed in the 50: 50 maize/SESBANIA intercropping ratio. Yield of this treatment was 10. 57% more than the maize sole cropping yield (13, 754 kg/ha). The highest dry forage yield of SESBANIA (1, 558. 3kg/ha), ash (8. 59%) and crude protein (11. 22%) was observed in SESBANIA sole cropping. Increasing the density of SESBANIA in intercropping, caused an improvement in crude protein and ash and a decrease in WSC, ADF, NDF and fiber of total harvested forage The highest WSC ADF, NDF and fiber was observed in the maize sole crop. Land equivalent ratio for all intercropping treatments, with the exception of 25: 75 maize/SESBANIA, was significantly greater than one, and the higher LER of 1. 34 was obtained in the 50: 50 maize/SESBANIA intercropping. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated intercropping of maize with SESBANIA improved forage yield and forage quality indices. The LER index also increased as a result of the intercropping. Therefore, intercropping of these crops showed more economic profit than sole cropping. Comparing different treatments indicated that a 50: 50 maize/SESBANIA intercropping (equal to 12. 5 maize plants + 12. 5 SESBANIA plants per square meter) was the best admissible intercropping treatment which presented the highest forage yield, suitable forage quality and greatest LER.

Salinity is one of the most important causes in reduction of agricultural products and depletion of natural vegetation in many parts of the world, like Iran. SESBANIA aculeata is a palatable forage and relatively salt tolerant species from Fabaceae family that can be used for reclamation of semi- saline rangelands. The study was performed to evaluate the salinity resistance of this in view of ions accumulation and anatomical changes. S. aculeata seeds were planted in sand under greenhouse conditions and irrigated with Hougland nutrient solution. A completely randomized design including three levels of salinity (control, 75 and 150 mM NaCl) was applied and plants were harvested after two months. According to the results, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots and relative water content were decreased under salinity. With increment of salinity level, Na+ and Cl- accumulation increased in all organs of plants which were more obvious in shoots. Furthermore, the potassium concentration and K+/Na+ ratio decreased in shoots and roots while total amino acids and soluble carbohydrates increased in plants in response to the salinity. Salinity also increased the palisade parenchyma cells thickness and total thickness of leaves, while spongy parenchyma cells thickness decreased under salinity. In addition, ratio of cortex to stele decreased in roots of plants grown under salinity. The results reveal that S. aculeata probably accumulates Na+ and Cl- mostly in vacuoles and amino acids and sugars in cytosol of thick leaf cells with palisade parenchyma through which osmotic adjustment and water absorption by plants is done with minimum energy. Increase of stele area in comparison with cortex in root may also facilitate water uptake under salinity.

Background and Objective: The goals of study were to evaluate the competitive and economic indices of Kochia, SESBANIA and Guar intercropping to select the best cultivation system in conditions of salinity stress. Materials & Methods: This experiment was performed at the National Salinity Research Center (NSRC) Yazd-Iran in 2016 and 2017. Three replicates of this split-plot experiment was done using randomized complete block design. The main factor was salinity stress at three levels (irrigation with 4, 9 and 14 dS/m electrical conductivity) and sub-factor, cultivation systems (three sole cropping of Kochia, SESBANIA and Guar and their two and three species intercropping. Results: The results showed that salinity decreased the height of SESBANIA and Guar and the mixed cultivation maintained the height of Guar and reduced leaf temperature. The highest percentage of green cover was at 4 and 9 dS/m in three Species, but at 14 dS/m in Kochia sole cropping which had no significant difference with three species. By increasing the salinity from 4 to 14 dS/m, the leaf chlorophyll index of the Guar decreased 21. 9% and SESBANIA 11. 4%, respectively. Intercropping of the three species increased the leaf chlorophyll concentration. The use of mixed cultivation increased the yield of Guar and SESBANIA. Conclusion: Due to the four advantage indices and Relative Value Total at the three salinity levels (1. 16, 1. 08 and 1. 01), it is recommended to replace Kochia sole cropping by three species intercropping.

Search for an adapted forage species for feed production under existing marginal lands and harsh conditions is needed to overcome sever feed shortage in Egypt. SESBANIA, SESBANIA aegyptiaca (SESBANIA sesban, L) has shown potential for forage production and being included in grazing systems, especially on marginal lands and salt–affected soils. An experiment was conducted in the summer of 2004 and 2005 under artesian irrigated water conditions where four cutting heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm above ground level) and three plant spacing (10, 20 and, 30 cm between plants) were investigated. The highest average accumulated fresh and dry forage yield obtained from cutting at 10 cm from ground surface whereas the 40 cm cutting level produced the lowest yield and no significant difference was observed between 20 and 30 cm cutting levels. Highest yield was obtained from second cutting. The CP% in forage harvested from 10 cm spacing was highest followed by 20 and 30 cm spacing, respectively. Forage from 1st cutting had the highest CP% followed by 2nd and 3rd cutting. The response of CF% in SESBANIA aegyptiaca to cutting level and time was opposite to those of CP %.

Salinity is one of the most serious threats to yield reduction of crop and resulted to depletion of natural vegetation in many parts of world especially in Iran. SESBANIA aculeata is moderately salt tolerant and may be utilized as forage crop for reclamation in semi-saline lands. The objective of the present study was evaluation of salt tolerance in SESBANIA aculeata and investigation of the roles of potassium nutrition in salt effects alleviation. Plants were cultivated in greenhouse with Hoagland nutrient solution in sand culture. The experiment were conducted in completely randomized deign as a factorial. Factor one was salinity treatments including 0 and 100 mM NaCl and factor two was potassium treatments including 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 mM K+. The plants harvested after 2 months treatments. The identified parameters were included fresh and dry mass, Na+ and K+, concentration and biochemical parameters including chlorophyll a and b, soluble sugar, amino acids content and peroxidase activity. The results indicated salinity reduced plants growth and decreased relative water content and imposed ions imbalance in plants tissues. Increase of salinity in root medium resulted to increment of Na+ and Cl- concentration and decrease of K+ and K+/Na+ ratio. Also, Salinity induced marked increase in peroxidase activity. Potassium treatments without salinity could be divided to 3 parts including critical, luxury and toxic nutrition. The optimum of plant growth was achieved in 1 mM potassium treatment without salinity and potassium toxicity in 40 mM K+ treatment caused increase in peroxidase activity and amino acids content and decrease of soluble sugar and consequently resulted to lower growth. In critical potassium nutrition (1 mM K+), Na+ and Cl- toxicity caused increase in peroxidase activity that resulted to relatively the lower growth under salinity. Salinity was intensified potassium toxicity (40 mM K+), decreased soluble sugar, increased peroxidase activity and consequently induced drastic growth reduction. The highest growth of plants under salinity was observed in 2.5 mM potassium nutrition. The results indicated that salinity enhanced potassium demand in SESBANIA aculeate up to a threshold.

Mercury (Hg) is one of the major toxic heavy metals because it bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in animal and human bodies via the food chain. To eliminate heavy metal contamination, plants are being used as removal agents of pollutants/toxic chemicals from the environment. The present study was mainly focused on elucidating the potential phytotoxic effects of Hg heavy metal ion exposure on SESBANIA grandiflora seedlings. Growth of seedlings was significantly affected (56 %) at 60 mg L-1 Hg concentration. The level of chlorophyll pigment contents was increased in Hg-treated plants compared to the control. Malondialdehyde content and antioxidative enzyme activities were found to be significantly increased by increasing the concentration of Hg exposure up to 40 mg L-1 while slightly decreased at higher doses. The DNA alterations appearing in the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of leaf and root tissues following Hg heavy metal exposure included the disappearance of normal DNA bands and the appearance of new bands compared to the untreated controls. This result strongly indicated that genomic template stability was significantly affected by Hg-induced stress in S. grandiflora seedlings. It is concluded that DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD fingerprinting analysis could be used as potential molecular markers for the evaluation of Hg heavy metal ion-induced genotoxic effects in other plant species.

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress and major limiting environmental factors for plant development and plant production. A plant defense reaction against water deficient is a complex endeavor. This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of mycorrhiza symbiosis on nitrogen and phosphorus absorption, nitrate reductase activity of root and protein content in seed, prolin content of root and carbohydrate of leaf and stem in SESBANIA aculeta under drought stress. This study was carried out in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in green house conditions. Treatments were three levels of drought stress (location) and two levels of mycorrhiza, M0 (without fungi) and M1 (with fungi). Results showed that Protein content of seed and nitrate reductase activity in root of mycorrhizal symbiosis in comparison with non-mycorrhizal symbiosis plants were increased significantly in arrangement about 11% and 4%. Also there were no significant differences between phosphorous and nitrogen content in root of mycorrhizal plants in comparison with non-mycorrhizal plants. During growth, flowering and filling seed, mycorrhizal symbiosis showed significantly difference in prolin content of root. Also in flowering stage, soluble carbohydrate of leaf and stem in mycorrhizal symbiosis plant were significantly higher than control (p<0.05).

In the framework of national project of Collection and Identification of Fungi of Iran some new findings about powdery mildews (Erysiphaceae) are reported here. The identity of causal agent of Lagerstroemia indica powdery mildew in Iran is discussed. Some new host species is reported for Leveillula taurica in Iran. Three Erysiphe species viz. Erysiphe deutziae on Deutzia gracilis; E. SESBANIAe on SESBANIA punicea and E. castaneigena on Quercus macranthera are also reported here as new members for Iranian mycobiota.Enumeration of taxa - Pseudoidium yenii (U. Braun) U. Braun & R.T.A. Cook, Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (PowderyMildews) (2012) On Lagerstroemia indica L.- Leveillula taurica (Lev.) G. Arnaud, Annls Epiphyt.7: 92 (1921), emend. Braun & Cook 2012.On Datisca cannabina L. and Cerinthe minor L.- Leveillula rutae (Jacz.) U. Braun, Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews) (2012) On Haplophyllum acutifolium G. Don - Erysiphe deutziae (Bunkina) U. Braun & S. Takam., Schlechtendalia 4: 7 (2000) Deutzia gracilis Siebold & Zucc.- Erysiphe SESBANIAe Wolcan & U. Braun, in Braun, Kruse, Wolcan & Murace, Mycotaxon 112: 181 (2010) On SESBANIA punicea Benth.- Erysiphe castaneigena U. Braun & Cunningt., in Braune, Delhey, Dianese & Hosagoudar, Schlechtendalia 14: 85 (2006) On Quercus macranthera Fisch. & C.A.Mey.