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In the present study, the effects of three allelopathic plant residues, namely Syrian bean-caper (Zygophyllum fabago L.), marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium L.) on two cultivar of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants infested by dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck.) were examined using factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with three replications. Means comparison revealed that the degree of sensitivity to allelopathic plant residues and dodder infestation in Iranian cultivar (Mubarake) of the basil was more than that of the Italian cultivar. In the plants, infested by dodder, a significant increase in the content of total soluble sugars, peroxidase activity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and the initial fluorescence (F0) was observed, while a noticeable decrease in their height, shoot dry weight, relative water content, pigment–protein content, the variable fluorescence (Fv) and the maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) of PSII was recorded. Depending on the allelopathic plants used in this study, the effect of the residues on dodder infestation and basil growth varied significantly. While the use of Z. fabago and D. stramonium residues positively correlated with the suppression of dodder emergence, D. stramonium residue use showed a negative impact on basils' growth. In contrast, the usage of C. officinalis residues could not diminish dodder infestation, and in dodder-infested basils it decreased plant performance, RWC, pigment and protein content and the maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) of PSII. Meanwhile, the application of Z. fabago residues to dodder-infested basil plants decreased dodder emergence rate and increased basil plants' height, dry weight of shoot, relative water content, pigment and protein content, and the maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) of PSII. Our findings suggest that as an environment-friendly treatment, Z. fabago residues could be used for controlling dodder infestation in basil plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate and access the best conditions to cultivate saffron in Tabriz, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Tabriz (Khalatpooshan), in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design and three replications. The treatments included two ecotypes of saffron in 4 levels of mother corm weight (3.1- 5, 5.1- 7, 7.1- 9 and more than 9 g) and two planting methods (row and mass). The results showed that corm weight and planting method had significant effects on the number and weight of replacement corms. But there was no significant effect on the different ecotypes. Among the experimental treatments, corms with 7.1- 9 g weight lead to the highest total corm number (342.65 corm.m-2) and corm yield (892.9 g.m-2) and the yield of flowers and stigma of saffron. It seems that for production of larger replacement corms and increased flowering yield, we need to culture large maternal corms. In addition, we observed the best economical yield that is determined by amount of stigma, in row planting method. The results showed that row planting method leads to a higher amount and yield of replacement corm production in comparison to mass planting method. As a result, producing corms with high weight followed by increasing of flower yield requires the use of large maternal corms for cultivation and row planting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]