Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Optimal Quality Inspections of Agricultural Foods in Farm-to-Consumer Direct Selling: Game-Based Approach 929 944 16965 10.22034/JAST.26.5.929 EN G. Han School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, 220 Hadan Road, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China. K. Li School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, 220 Hadan Road, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Farm-to-Consumer Direct Selling (F2C) programs allow consumers to pre-order a share of a farm’s produce so that the farmer benefits from guaranteed sales at a pre-agreed price, while the consumer benefits from receiving produce with a certain quality and the knowledge that they are supporting a local farmer. However, agricultural foods are a type of credence goods, and consumers have to trust that the supplied produce is indeed, as claimed, cultivated on the farm in accordance with the agreed cultivation practices, such as organic. In this study, we attempt to provide inspection bodies with a strategic inspection rate that respects the quality commitments of farms and examine how the inspection strategy influences consumers’ benefits. We derive the equilibrium decisions of inspection bodies and farms based on a game model, using a closed-form analysis to develop the optimal inspection rate at which a farm maintains its commitment to food quality. Specifically, the inspection rate increases with food quality when the inspection cost is below a certain threshold. However, inspection bodies tend to dispense when the inspection cost exceeds a specified value. The consumer surplus in quality increases with the inspection rate when the inspection rate is below a certain threshold. However, when the inspection rate exceeds the threshold, additional inspections do not have marginal effects on consumer surplus in quality.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16965_4d1d732a3fd7efdacb4b26a0ca945eba.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Resource Use Efficiency of Tomato Production under Plastic House in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal 945 956 16966 10.22034/JAST.26.5.945 EN B. Kunwar College of Agriculture, Purdue University, USA Journal Article 1970 01 01 A survey was conducted to assess the technical and allocative efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production under the plastic house in metropolitan city of Pokhara, Nepal. From the total tomato growers, 80 farmers were selected through multistage sampling. Stochastic frontier approach is applied to the obtained survey data and analyzed to study the technical and allocative efficiency of tomato production. This research is essential for enhancing tomato yields without incurring additional input expenses. Our results find the mean technical efficiency of 78.19%, which shows the great opportunity of improvement of tomato production in Pokhara. Technical efficiency is positively influenced by education level and training availability and negatively affected by farmers' ages. Subsidy has non-significant effect on technical efficiency in the study area. The allocative efficiency ratio of plastic house area, seed, and di-ammonium phosphate shows its underutilization with a score above 1. On the contrary, farmyard manure, urea and muriate of potash application are overutilized with a score of less than 1. The efficiency in tomato production can be improved by optimal allocation of resources, encouraging young farmers in farming, increasing access to education and training to farmers, and change in current subsidy mechanism. Through corrective measures, policies, and practices, an efficient frontier could be achieved by the tomato-growing farmers of the study area, which ultimately will maximize profit without necessarily increasing input level.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16966_bb2825b78d37fef9ecabb1b91a8a6b88.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Sustainable Cropping Pattern with the Tradeoff between Economic and Environmental Consideration in Shiraz Plain, Iran 957 971 16967 10.22034/JAST.26.5.957 EN E. Nourpouri Department of Agricultural Economics, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Islamic Republic of Iran. S. N. Moosavi Department of Agricultural Economics, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Islamic Republic of Iran. R. Moghaddasi Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 One of the most important decisions that farmers make is the allocation of resources in an optimal manner, which is often done by determining the optimal cropping pattern. The purpose of this study was to present a cultivation model compatible with the agricultural ecosystem of Shiraz Plain, Fars Province, Iran, by quantifying the environmental effects of agricultural production using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. The results of LCA showed that cultivation of crops such as lentils, onions, and tomatoes had the most negative environmental effects. The ecosystem quality index for crops in this plain varied between 0.03 and 3.64 PT. The highest negative impact of crop cultivation on the quality of the ecosystem was attributed to onion, tomato, and rain-fed lentils. The results of multi-objective planning showed that farmers can achieve their economic objectives and policymakers’ environmental goals through reducing the area under cultivation. By changing the cropping pattern towards the suggested pattern for Shiraz Plain, an average decrease of 5.60% in profit was expected. However, this change is an effective step in controlling consumption of water, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. Achieving sustainable agriculture in terms of economic and environmental indicators is possible by reducing the cropland area and economic profit by 18.05% and 11.43%, respectively.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16967_910f5043d869086f1835d993448cd3a4.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Genetic Variations and Bottleneck Demographic Studies in Kurdish Horse Breed Using 17 Microsatellite Markers 973 982 16968 10.22034/JAST.26.5.973 EN H. R. Seyedabadi Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran. H. Emrani Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 The Kurdish horse is one of the most valuable and original pure genetic reserves in Iran. According to historical evidence, this breed dates back to more than 2,500 years ago. In this population, genetic variations were analyzed using 17 microsatellite markers recommended by International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG). Genomic DNAs were extracted from the hair roots of 761 Kurdish horses. DNA fragments were amplified by multiplex PCR reaction using fluorescently labeled primers, and determined by capillary electrophoresis. Average number of alleles per locus was 4.29 (from 6 alleles in HTG7 to 17 alleles in ASB17). The mean value of the observed heterozygosity was 0.721, ranging from 0.491 (HTG7) to 0.838 (VHL20), while expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.523 (HTG7) to 0.839 (VHL20) with a mean of 0.752. The PIC value was from 0.708 (HMS6) to 0.856 (ASB17) with a mean of 0.782. The inbreeding coefficient ranged from -0.012 (ASB2) to 0.183 (HTG6) with a mean of 0.040. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P< 0.05) was found in 11 loci. The total exclusion probability of the 17 microsatellite loci was 0.9999. Kurdish horse revealed bottleneck event under two models of microsatellite evolution for sign and standardized differences for Infinite Alleles Model (IAM) and Stepwise Mutation Model (SMM). Based on this study, the effectiveness of 17 microsatellite markers for parentage verification and assignment test of Kurdish horse is confirmed. These results may facilitate conservation programs for the studied breeds and raise preserve their genetic variation.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16968_2eeeabb94749b31cb398801cc1cb4e2e.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Development of Antibacterial Nano-cellulose – Chitosan Films Activated with Nisin for Food and Medicine Application 983 997 16969 10.22034/JAST.26.5.983 EN M. Mirhosseini Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. R. Deghan Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 In this research, biodegradable Chitosan–Nano-Cellulose–Nisin (CH-NC-N) film was synthesized and utilized for antibacterial application in medicine and food packaging. The antibacterial chitosan–nano-cellulose–nisin film was characterized using various techniques such as mechanical and physical properties analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The film’s ability to inhibit growth of pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli XDR, Klebsiella pneumonia XDR, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus was examined. Furthermore, the film was used for meat packaging at a temperature of 4°C for a duration of 26 days. Data analysis revealed an improvement in the mechanical properties and water absorption of the film following the addition of nano-cellulose and nisin. The presence of nisin in the CH-CN film was confirmed through analysis of FTIR, XRD, and SEM data. Antimicrobial analysis of film determined the high potential of nisin as an antimicrobial agent in CH-CN-N film. Compared to the control, the CH-CN-N film successfully inhibited the growth of spoilage bacteria in meat for 26 days. Additionally, the sensory properties of meat packaged with this film were minimally affected. These results indicate that the chitosan-nano-cellulose-nisin film is suitable for utilization in food systems and medical applications.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16969_abbcf60674d48894b8ea294e4f23b41e.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Biological Control of Pichia bruneiensis AL3 against Green Mould Disease on Oranges 999 1012 16970 10.22034/JAST.26.5.999 EN N. Phankaeo Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Chalongkrung Road, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand. K. Nuchthien Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Chalongkrung Road, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand. N. Pitthayajirakul Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Chalongkrung Road, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand. N. Rungjindamai Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Chalongkrung Road, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Agriculture plays an essential role in Thailand economy. However, to control plant pathogens and maximize crop yield, pesticides are overused and misused. This results in toxic pollutants that are harmful to humans and the environment. Biological control offers an alternative to the use of synthetic chemicals. Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) is widely grown and consumed in Thailand, but it is threatened by green mould disease caused by Penicillium digitatum, which usually occurs at post-harvest storage. A total of 40 isolates of epiphytic yeasts were isolated from symptomless orange peels. They were screened for antagonistic activity against P. digitatum originally isolated from a diseased orange using a dual culture method. Five isolates exhibited at least 70% inhibition; therefore, they were further screened for their activity on orange using fruit inoculation. An isolate, AL3, reduced the disease incidence (79%) and lesion size (34.75±2.57 mm) caused by P. digitatum compared to the control treatments (disease incidence, 100% and lesion size, 50.00±1.03 mm, respectively). The yeast was analyzed using molecular data based on Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS region) and it was identified as Pichia bruneiensis AL3. Its mode of action on anti-sporulation was studied. When tested on agar plates, living cells and culture broth of P. bruneiensis AL3 were able to inhibit spore germination of P. digitatum resulting in 33.2 and 38.2% germination, respectively, compared to the control treatment (76.8% germination). These results showed that P. bruneiensis AL3 has the potential to develop as a biological control agent (BCA).

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16970_816308509e3f57309be4d4b2da8d299e.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Biochemical, Mineral, and Enzymatic Properties of Date Fruits (Barhee and Piyarom Cultivars) as Influenced by Different Pollen Sources 1013 1025 16971 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1013 EN H. Zargari Department of Agronomy and Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Food Industry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 0009-0003-4514-9781 A. Talaie Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran. Y. Dehghani Shurki Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran. V. Abdossi Department of Agronomy and Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture and Food Industry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 The present study investigated the effects of five Iranian male palm pollen grains as pollen sources on the fruit quality of two cultivars, ‘Barhee’ and ‘Piyarom’ (offshoot-derived and tissue culture-derived). The biochemical and enzymatic properties of fruit dates at the Tamar stage (full maturity) enabled the evaluation of pollen source effects on fruit quality. The research location was Jahrom Research Station, Fars Province, Iran, from 2018 to 2019. The pollen sources were genotypes ‘7001’ (control), ‘7005’, ‘7013’, ‘7030’, and ‘B11’. Pollinated with 7013 pollen, Offshoot-erived (OFS) trees of the ‘Barhee’ cultivar had the highest fruit flesh pH (7.07). In contrast, the lowest pH value (5.84) occurred in fruits of Tissue Culture-Derived (TCD) trees of the ‘Piyarom’ pollinated with the 7030. In the OFS ‘Piyarom’ the pollen source 7001 caused the highest fruit TSS (68.83%). When pollinated with the B11, ‘Barhee’ had the lowest fruit TSS (44.90%). In TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees, the 7030 pollen caused the highest TSS (62.53%). By receiving pollen from B11, the ‘Barhee’ produced fruits with the lowest TSS (44.23%). Regardless of being OFS or TCD and of the pollen source, on average, ‘Barhee’ produced fruits with more moisture content than fruits of the ‘Piyarom’. In OFS ‘Piyarom’ trees, pollen from the 7030 caused the highest Fruit Dry Matter (FDM) (87.40%), whereas the ‘Barhee’ pollinated with the 7001 produced fruits with the lowest FDM (67.15%). In TCD ‘Piyarom’ palms, pollen from the 7030 caused the highest FDM (85.19%), compared to the ‘Barhee’ pollinated with the 7013, which showed the lowest FDM (67.87%). Pollen from the 7030 caused the highest total sugar content in the fruits of OFS and TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees. The fruits of OFS ‘Piyarom’ trees had more Fe and Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) activity than TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16971_d9beb34eaa1dba01040150173e461bbb.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Critical Crop Load Threshold in Nutrition and Biennial Bearing of Apple Trees 1027 1041 16972 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1027 EN E. Atay Horticulture Program, Department of Crop and Livestock Production, Food Agriculture and Livestock School, Burdur, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey. A. N. Atay Horticulture Program, Department of Crop and Livestock Production, Food Agriculture and Livestock School, Burdur, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Crop load regulation is vital for achieving excellence in orchards, particularly in terms of consistent yields and high-quality fruit. It also has a direct impact on tree nutrition. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between crop load and tree nutrition using segment linear regression models. The focus was on identifying any breakpoints in this relationship and exploring the connection between leaf nutrient contents and fruit quality characteristics. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the critical crop load level that influences biennial bearing. The research was conducted in a high-density 'Golden Delicious'/M.9 apple orchard located in the Lake Region of Turkey over three consecutive years (2013-2015). Twenty-four different crop load levels were examined to assess the impact of the number of fruits on leaf nutrient contents. The critical threshold levels were determined as follows: potassium [0.91 kg cm-2 Trunk Cross-Sectional Area (TCSA)], phosphorus (0.96 kg cm-2 TCSA), magnesium (0.97 kg cm-2 TCSA), manganese (0.99 kg cm-2 TCSA), zinc (1.0 kg cm-2 TCSA), and iron (1.15 kg cm-2 TCSA). This suggests that a crop load ranging from 3.71 to 4.69 fruit/cm2 TCSA could be considered critical depending on the specific nutrient in tree nutrition. The results revealed significant negative correlations between leaf mineral contents and overall fruit quality characteristics. Moreover, the critical crop load threshold for biennial bearing (0.77 kg cm-2 TCSA) was found to be lower than the nutrient threshold. Building on previous studies, this research significantly contributes by clarifying the critical crop load level at which a sudden change occurs in macro- and micro-nutrients, as well as biennial bearing.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16972_5e84bd89fe45860ca1ebaf025f494461.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Enhanced Growth in Cucurbita maxima Seedlings Inoculated with Endophytic Fungi isolated from Rhizophora racemosa Rhizosphere 1043 1055 16973 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1043 EN O. Godwin Okon Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. A. Rhouma Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B. P. 357, 9100, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. A. Martins Udo Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. A. Abbdul Ameer Matrood Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Iraq. M. Saqlain Zaheer Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed, University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. L. Hajji-Hedfi Regional Centre of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid, CRRA, Gafsa Road Km 6, B.P. 357, 9100, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Endophytic fungi are considered an eco-friendly and bio-safe alternative to increase agricultural productivity. The study objectives were to isolate and identify endophytic fungi from the roots of Rhizophora racemosa and to assess their effect on the growth of Cucurbita maxima plants. Molecular identification of the endophytic fungal isolates revealed five fungal species: Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium equiseti, Penicillium citrinum, and Talaromyces albobiverticillius. A. aculeatus induced the best improvement rate of plant development with an increase of shoot length (159 %), petiole length (171%), internode length (155%), leaf number (133%) and leaf area (149%)at 84 days after the fungal treatment. This research highlights the importance of A. aculeatus, which can be an eco-friendly bio-fertilizer that can enhance the production of Cucurbita maxima and improve the agricultural sector. To confirm its effectiveness, experiments must be conducted in fields and greenhouses.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16973_88115bc763427b1dcfa06190a8eb1341.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Experimental Validation and Characterization of Sugarcane Genome-Encoded MicroRNAs and Their Targets Using PCR-Based Expressional Methodology 1057 1071 16974 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1057 EN Abdul Baqi Colleges, Higher and Technical Education Department, Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. Samiullah Department of Chemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta 87300, Pakistan. M. Z. Saleem Center for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. M. Ayub University of Balochistan H. Habibullah Colleges, Higher and Technical Education Department, Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. Journal Article 1970 01 01 MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are typically small, endogenous, non-coding RNAs molecules that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level by mRNA degradation or translational repression. They are composed of 18-26 nucleotides and are conserved during evolution for the development of new miRNAs in a variety of plants. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is generally a valuable food and forage crop grown all over the world. Until now, different sugarcane miRNAs have been characterized for plant development and stress responses. In this research, 50 unique conserved sugarcane miRNAs from 44 different miRNA families have been predicted using a variety of genomics-based tools. The predicted sugarcane miRNAs were validated using a set of 15 randomly chosen primers and RT-PCR. Stem loop secondary structures are created using MFOLD tool. The psRNA-Target algorithm identified 7,976 various protein targets of sof-miRNAs including 55 specific GO terms. They have significant targets in biological, cellular, and molecular functions. Moreover, the sof-miR5205a regulates sulfur compound biosynthetic process and 9653a directs ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process. Consequently, the RNA binding and thylakoid membrane are controlled by sof-miR9657b and 2091, respectively. As a result, the outcomes of the novel sugarcane miRNAs target a variety of substantial genes that aid in controlling the environment for sugarcane to produce a higher quality crop.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16974_d2674b94792c7f0afc26b56eabc95b30.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 From Waste to Utilization: Assessing the Feasibility of Using Post-Mushroom Substrate and Other Agro-Wastes for the Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi 1073 1082 16975 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1073 EN P. Ranadev Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560065, Karnataka, India. K. Nagaraju Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560065, Karnataka, India. R. Vasanth Kumari Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560065, Karnataka, India. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Production of high-quality inoculum in sufficient quantities is crucial for biocontrol programs. Entomopathogenic Fungi (EPF) are highly suitable biocontrol agents due to their adaptability, mode of action, persistence, and wide host range. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of agro-wastes, including sugarcane bagasse, paddy husk, Post Mushroom Substrate (PMS), and sorghum grains with and without 10% molasses fortification, for mass production of four EPF isolates (Cordyceps fumosorosea: MT997932, Beauveria bassiana: MT997933, Akanthomyces lecanii: MT997935, and Hirsutella thompsonii: MT997936) isolated from two agro-climatic zones in Karnataka, India. The study employed solid-state fermentation. Results showed that sorghum grains fortified with 10% molasses had the highest mycelial growth and spore production of all isolates, followed by PMS with 10% molasses (T7). Fortification with molasses positively influenced the growth and spore production of EPF. The results indicated that while sorghum grains were the best choice for mass production, PMS fortified with molasses also had great potential as an alternative substrate.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16975_3dd6cfec510eae9cb9951c5099c97701.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 How to Use Chemical Fertilizer Scientifically to Raise Yield of Rice? 1083 1095 16976 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1083 EN M. Zhong School of Economics and Trade, Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou 350108, China. D. He School of Economics and Trade, Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou 350108, China. J. Yang School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China. W. Ke School of Economics and Trade, Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou 350108, China. Journal Article 1970 01 01 The negative impact of excessive fertilization on the sustainable development of agriculture has become the focus of universal attention. Thus, the aim is to maximize the yield of rice without imposing too much damage on the environment. This paper uses data regression analysis based on the statistical data (from 1990 to 2020) of a certain region to explore the impact of fertilizer application on rice yield, and adopts the sensitivity analysis to study the sensitivity of rice yield to the applied amount of chemical fertilizer. The results show that the average rice yield increased with increasing Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers application within the statistical data range; while the average rice yield decreased as Phosphorus (P) fertilizer application increased. Simultaneously, increasing the application of N and K fertilizers improved the average rice yield. Reducing the amount of P fertilizer and increasing the proportion of K fertilizer positively affected the average rice yield. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the average rice yield was most sensitive to K application amount. The sensitivity value maximized at a small amount of N fertilizer (11.25 kg hm-2) and a large amount of P fertilizer (6 kg hm-2). The findings reveal the interactive effect of multiple fertilizer application rates on grain yield and address the unclear mechanism of single fertilizer application on grain yield in the existing research. This paper provides a theoretical basis for scientific fertilizer use, agricultural quality, efficiency improvement, and sustainable development of agriculture.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16976_30c58a19dde41f4ecbe4fa148968a31f.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Optimizing Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Irrigation to Introduce the Optimum Genotype for Grain Yield and Quality Promotion 1097 1112 16977 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1097 EN M. Habibi Department of Agronomy, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran. P. Mazloom Department of Agronomy, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran. M. Nasiri Seed and Plant Improvement Research Department, Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII), Mazandaran Branch, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Amol, Islamic Republic of Iran. A. Eftekhari Department of Agronomy, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran. M. Moballeghi Department of Agronomy, Chalous Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalous, Iran. Journal Article 1970 01 01 Utilizing new irrigation techniques to introduce cultivars into paddy fields experiencing water scarcity is one way to combat water shortage and increase water productivity. To this end, this experiment was conducted as a strip plot in a randomized complete block design with three independent replications over two years (2016 and 2017) at the Rice Research Institute of Iran, Amol, Iran. Ten rice genotypes (V1 to V10) were subjected to three types of irrigation systems, including conventional Flood Irrigation (FI) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) at 10 (AWD10) and 20 (AWD20) cm below the soil surface. These results demonstrate that AWD10 and AWD20 methods reduced water consumption by 20 and 17%, respectively, compared to the conventional methods. This decreased water usage resulted in 1.4 and 0.2% yield losses compared to the conventional flood irrigation system. Moreover, milling recovery in flood irrigation (68.7%) was lower than AWD10 and AWD20 methods (69.6 and 69.8%, respectively). In conclusion, Neda, Shiroodi, and 8611 rice genotypes showed a better response to AWD irrigation, and may be considered as suitable genotypes for increasing water productivity in paddy fields.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16977_fb81884e2893b11a86facda51150264d.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Post-Harvest Fruit Quality Changes in Grafted and Ungrafted 'Crimson Tide' Watermelon Variety 1113 1126 16978 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1113 EN V. Aras Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Mersin, Turkey. M. Unlu Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Mersin, Turkey. A. E. Ozdemir Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Hatay, Turkey. R. Arslan Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Hatay, Turkey. C. Eroglu Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Mersin, Turkey. Journal Article 1970 01 01 In this study, changes in the post-harvest fruit quality of 'Crimson Tide' watermelon variety grafted onto Nun9075 and ungrafted ‘Crimson Tide’ were investigated. Watermelons were grown at the Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey, and stored at 4°C and 90-95% relative humidity for 5 weeks. The total soluble solid and titratable acid contents, weight loss, fungal decay, physiological disorders, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, total phenolic substance and sugars were evaluated. Quality analyses were determined at weekly intervals throughout the storage period. The results demonstrated that weight loss of grafted and control fruits were found to be very low (1%) during the storage. Fungal and physiological disorders were not observed in grafted or control watermelon fruits during storage. Total soluble solid, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic substance contents of the ‘Crimson Tide’ variety grafted onto Nun9075 were higher than in the control fruits.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16978_59186584039c18248c1c4244e7305050.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Synergistic Effect of Gamma Irradiation and Methyl Jasmonate on the Postharvest Quality of Fresh Apricots (Prunus armeniaca cv. ‘CITH-1’) Stored under Refrigeration 1127 1142 16979 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1127 EN Gh Jeelani Raja Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J&K, India-190023 F. A. Masoodi Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J&K, India-190023 Journal Article 1970 01 01 Apricots being highly perishable and often results in significant postharvest losses that affect their marketability and commercial viability. A study was conducted to investigate the synergistic effect of postharvest application of gamma irradiation and Methyl Jasmonate (MeJ) on the quality, enzyme-specific activities, and shelf life of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca cv. ‘CITH-1’). Apricots were gamma irradiated at a dosage of 0.5 kGy and submerged in different concentrations of MeJ before being refrigerated (1±1oC, RH 80-85%) for 35 days. Apricots treated with a 0.5 kGy dose and 0.1 mmol L-1 MeJ followed by refrigeration significantly (P< 0.05) retained higher levels of antioxidant activity. The quality of apricots was effectively preserved, and their shelf life was extended through treatments of 0.5 kGy irradiation dosage and 0.2 mmol L-1 MeJ, which significantly (P< 0.05) reduced decay percentage, weight loss, and enzyme activity while maintaining fruit firmness. The study's results suggest that applying a postharvest treatment of MeJ at a concentration of 0.1 and 0.2 mmol L-1 in combination with an irradiation dosage of 0.5 kGy is a viable method for preserving the quality and bioactive compounds of fresh apricots during refrigerated storage for up to 35 days.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16979_be0cd90e56b967892768ed6f52cf9e7b.pdf

Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 26 5 2024 09 01 Effects of Different Irrigation Levels on Sugar Beet and Potential Use of Crop Water Stress Index in Irrigation Scheduling 1143 1159 16980 10.22034/JAST.26.5.1143 EN H. A. Irik Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Türkiye. E. Kaymaz Department of Research and Development, Kayseri Sugar Beet Factory, Kayseri, Türkiye. H. Neslihan Samutoglu Department of Research and Development, Kayseri Sugar Beet Factory, Kayseri, Türkiye. O. Fikret GURKAN Department of Research and Development, Kayseri Sugar Beet Factory, Kayseri, Türkiye A. Unlukara Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Türkiye. Journal Article 1970 01 01 With the increasing world population, global warming, and climate change, water scarcity significantly limits water use in crop production. Therefore, timely and accurate determination of water stress is very important for the correct and effective management of existing water resources and minimizing harmful effects on crop production. Two years of experiments were conducted in the water-limited region in Türkiye to investigate the possible use of the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) as a remote sensing technology in sugar beet irrigation scheduling. Four different Irrigation levels (I50: 50% deficit, I75: 25% deficit, I100: full irrigation, and I125: 25% excess irrigation) were applied to sugar beet by drip irrigation system. The amount of applied irrigation water and crop evapotranspiration varied between 238-540 and 350-580 mm in 2021, and between 324-807 and 502-829 mm in 2022. In both years, the highest beed yields were obtained from I100 treatments (83 and 130 t ha-1) and the lowest from I50 treatments (66.7 and 67.4 t ha-1). Water Productivity (WP) and Irrigation Water Productivity (IWP) in both years decreased significantly by excessive irrigation. CWSI values ranged between 0.16-0.98 in 2021 and between 0.02-0.71 in 2022. CWSI was significantly related to yield and Leaf Area Index (LAI). According to the results, CWSI could be used successfully in sugar beet irrigation scheduling and yield estimation.

https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_16980_c058d246d9705cc0524d7b25e1e36a6a.pdf