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Medicinal plants (MDPs) play a critical role in the healthcare provision of much of the world’s population, with undoubtedly increasing demand both in the number of species and in the volume of plant material being traded, but what drives demand for MDPs is not well understood. This study was conducted to evaluate factors affecting the demand for MDPs in the area of Rasht in northern Iran. A questionnaire was used as the primary means of data collection from consumers who were familiar with MDPs. The mean scores of identified favouring and disfavouring factors along with the bootstrapping confidence interval and Shannon’s entropy were used for ranking consumers’ attitudes. The main promoters of the demand were: the low complication by the consumption of MDPs, the consumers’ recommendation to others about the use of MDPs, and the lower prices of MDPs than common chemical medicines. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the main promoters could be grouped into three factors related to i) health benefits and availability of MDPs, ii) effectiveness and suitability of MDPs, and iii) price and tradition. On the other hand, the lack of insurance coverage of MDPs consumers, the lack of proper processing and packaging of MDPs, and the lack of adequate information about MDPs use by the authorities were the most important inhibiting factors of consumers’ demand for MDPs. Factor analysis revealed that the main deterrents could be grouped into four factors related to i) limited support of MDPs, ii) poor access to processed MDPs, iii) lack of alternatives and spatial limitations, and iv) uncertainty and lack of confidence. The data provide a useful snapshot of the factors affecting the demand for MDPs in Rasht of northern Iran. The information sheds some light on what drives the acceptance of MDPs by the consumers and provides interesting policy insights into the development of production concerning the sector of MDPs in northern Iran. Methodologically, the study could constitute a base for the formation of a theory for the demand of MDPs in future research.

A wide range of Boron-containing compounds is available in the world market, with different formulations and efficiencies. Among these compounds, nano-chelated products are becoming popular, although there is only limited information on their efficiency. Thus, this study considers the effects of boron nano-chelated fertilizer and boric acid foliar sprays on fruit and oil yield in olive cv. ‘Zard’. Their quality attributes were studied during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018. Fertilizers were used at the concentration of 105 (B1) and 158.8 (B2) mg boric acid, 200 (nano-B1) and 300 (nano-B2) mg nano-chelated boron, corresponding to 180 mg (B1 and nano-B1) and 270 mg (B2 and nano-B2) pure boron per liter. Spraying with water was considered as the control (B0). Fruit characteristics were affected mainly by nano treatments and fruit yield efficiency increased by the use of nano-B2. In spite of the heavy fruit weight and yield, the nano-B2 caused a lower amount of oil accumulation in fruits. A high oil percentage was achieved by the treatment of boron (B2) which resulted in a low crop load. Traits such as oil yield, free fatty acids, antioxidant activity and total phenol content were improved by the application of nano-B2 fertilizer. Fatty acid composition was affected by B1 foliar application. Generally, the data obtained from this study showed that nano-B2 could provide beneficial effects on the growth, fruit and oil yield rather than on oil percentage. The main fatty acid composition was influenced more by boric acid treatments.

The relationships among several mineral elements of August-sampled leaf October-harvested fruit, maturity and post-harvest quality factors of ‘Starkspur Golden Delicious’ apple trees grown on Seedling, Malling (M) 1, Malling Merton (MM) 106, M 7, Oregon Apple Rootstock (OAR 1) or M 26 in a high-density orchard during 1980–1982 were evaluated. Positive correlations were found between leaf N, K and P and fruit N, K and P, respectively, in most rootstocks. Leaf Ca did not correlate with fruit Ca; thus leaf analysis cannot be recommended for estimates of fruit Ca. Both leaf and fruit N positively correlated with fruit green color and negatively with fruit soluble solids in all rootstocks. Fruit Ca and fruit P were both negatively correlated with fruit soluble solids at harvest and after 6 months of 0°C storage for all rootstocks. The ratio of fruit N Ca was positively correlated with internal ethylene in MM 106, M 7 and OAR 1, while fruit K Ca ratio was positively correlated with titratable acidity in all rootstocks. Fruit Ca showed negative correlations with bitterpit, storage rot and field internal ethylene, but positive correlation with firmness. Yield was positively correlated with leaf and fruit N, Ca and Cu but slightly negatively correlated with B of those tissues. Higher yield was associated with lower leaf K concentrations. Fruit green color was negatively correlated with soluble solids and titratable acidity. Fruit dry matter was highly positively correlated with soluble solids and titratable acidity in MM 106, OAR 1 and M 26. Soluble solids at harvest were strongly predicted by pre-harvest dry matter.

In a test with ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d'Anjou’ pear on 8 Pyrus (P.) rootstocks, leaves of ‘Bartlett’ were high in S and Fe on ‘Bartlett’ seedlings (BS), in Zn on P. ussuriensis Maxim. seedlings (USS), and in B on seedlings of P. calleryana Decne (Cal). Leaves of ‘d'Anjou’ were high in P, Zn and B on BS, in N on USS, and in S on Cal. Both ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d'Anjou’ were high in K and Ca on P. betulaefolia Bunge seedlings (Bet). Fruit of both ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d'Anjou’ were high in N, K and Mg on Bet and Cal and high in Ca on Cal and USS. With both ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d'Anjou’, moderately high correlations were found between leaf and fruit concentrations of K and Mg; positive correlations were high for Ca and S with ‘Bartlett’ and for Zn and B with ‘d'Anjou’. There was a very high negative correlation between leaf and fruit Ca with ‘d'Anjou’.