The utilization of organic fertilizer is an effective method in organic culture of medicinal plants because of its beneficial effects on soil structure, reduction of environmental problem and improvement in plant growth. The experiments were conducted in a research field at the University of Guilan at the Rasht and Torbat-e-Jam Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of 7 Mt ha⁻¹ of cow manure vermicompost, vermiwash prepared from 7 Mt ha⁻¹ of vermicompost, leachate vermicompost + vermiwash, 50 Mt ha⁻¹ municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), chemical fertilizer (50, 0, 300 NPK) and no fertilization as a control on peppermint yield and quality. Organic fertilizers significantly affected all the measured characters except total phenols and antioxidant capacity compared to chemical fertilizers and the control. Plants treated with vermicompost, vermiwash or vermicompost leachate + vermiwash were the tallest and had the highest levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids. Plants treated with vermicompost had the highest essential oil yield (24.21 ml m⁻²). Plant growth in the Rasht region had the highest number of lateral branches (18), fresh (10.51 g) and dry weight (4.64 g) of plant, fresh (2,102.9 kg ha⁻¹) and dry (928.67 kg ha⁻¹) yield, leaf area index (0.17) and carotenoids (531.82 mg 100 g⁻¹), while the highest oil per plant (0.24 ml plant⁻¹) and oil yield (18.49 ml m⁻²), chlorophyll a (7.37 mg 100 g⁻¹), b (4.07 mg 100 g⁻¹) and total chlorophyll (11.44 mg 100 g⁻¹), total phenol (7.48 mg gallic acid equivalent 100 g⁻¹) and antioxidant capacity (71.89 (% of inhibition) were obtained from plants grown in the Torbat-e-Jam region. Organic fertilizers beneficially affect soil structure and nutrient availability. The use of sustainable organic materials can increase fertility without negative effects on human health and environment. We counsel farmers to use leachate vermicompost and vermiwash in organic cultivation of peppermint separately or mixed together.

A comparison among two forms of half-diallel analysis was made. The different half-diallel techniques used were Griffing's model I, method 2 and 4. These methods of diallel analysis were found to be interrelated. However, as Griffing's model I, method 4 partitioned heterosis into different components as well as gave information about combining ability and this method had certainly some advantages over the other. The results further indicated using parental generations in the second Griffing method may cause biased estimate of the GCA and SCA variances. Thus, using the fourth Griffing method is more suitable than the other methods in providing time, cost, and facilities, and it is recommended as an applicable method.

The present study aimed to estimate the effects of different drying methods on appropriate drying time, essential oil yield, total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of Anethum graveolens L. and Mentha piperita L. Factorial experiment was conducted in completely randomized design at research field and laboratory of agricultural campus of the University of Guilan during 2011-2012. Treatments were: two levels of plant type (peppermint and dill) and four levels of drying methods (oven drying at 60°C and 75°C, drying at natural shade and drying exposed to sunlight). Results indicated that different drying methods had significant effect on all observed characteristics. In this experiment increasing oven temperature lead to reduction of essential oil yield. Minimum and maximum essential oil were obtained when dill and peppermint were oven dried at 75°C (20.11 ml m-2) and dried in shading (28.44 ml m-2), respectively. Oven drying at 75°C reduced antioxidant capacity of dill while shade-drying increased antioxidant capacity of peppermint. However drying at 60°C may be an appropriate temperature for drying peppermint and dill plant material, due to a significant reduction of drying time with no adverse effects on the essential oil yields.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) has a bush-type habit and sweet gourd (C. moschata Duch.) has high levels of carotenoids. It may be that these high-quality traits may be expressed in an interspecific hybrid generated from these crops through heterosis breeding. The study was undertaken to examine standard heterosis and broad sense heritability in vegetative, fruit yield, yield components, and qualitative characteristics in hybrids from fruit-type groups in C. pepo and C. moschata. Highest and lowest broad sense heritability were for yield·ha⁻¹ (33.2%) and flesh thickness (25.5%). The highest standard heterosis in relation to the standard C. moschata variety (MO₆) was from the MO₁₁ ×P₂₅ hybrid, the former from C. moschata and the latter from C. pepo for stem length of plants with the C. moschata fruit type. The highest standard heterosis in relation to the standard C. pepo variety (P₁) was from the P₁ × MO₉ hybrid, the former from C. pepo and the latter from C. moschata for plant weight with the pumpkin fruit type. In plants with the zucchini fruit type the highest, and lowest, standard heterosis in relation to the standard C. pepo variety in this type (P₂₅) was from the P₅ ×MO₃ hybrid, the former from C. pepo and the latter from C. moschata, for fruit yield and plant weight, respectively. Specific crosses between C. pepo and C. moschata and some interspecific hybrids have superior yield and qualitative traits. Dominant variance is more important than additive variance there for hybridization for seed production. For yield, selection to generate a high recombinant line can probably be accomplished due to high heritability.

The most widely cultivated species globally is Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’. However, in recent years, consumers have shown greater demand for new varieties with novel flesh colour, flavour and appearance in international markets. To meet these expectations, one breeding study was started in 2016 at the University of Guilan in Iran to develop new kiwifruit cultivars with superior characteristics. In this breeding program, 201 female and 534 male hybrid genotypes were obtained from combinations of six different parents using the controlled cross-breeding technique. The evaluations were carried out over three consecutive stages. In the first stage, 201 female hybrid genotypes and control (‘Golden’) were evaluated based on 25 phenological and pomological traits. In the second stage, hybrids passed the desired threshold values in 7 key attributes were selected. Sensory testing in the next stage evaluated these selected hybrid genotypes more. As a result of the first stage, 30 hybrid genotypes with fruit weight (90 ≥ g) were selected. Then, in the second stage, 21 hybrids that showed acceptable dry matter, hue angle, flesh firmness, soluble solid content, acidity, and ascorbic acid were selected. Finally, 13 hybrid genotypes received high scores in sensory testing, and just two hybrid genotypes represented a 100% of novelty with positive texture. These genotypes were selected as potential cultivar candidates. In future studies, fruit yield, disease/pest resistance, and post-harvest performance trials of the 13 selected candidates will be evaluated at different sites. Thus, the ones that give the best results will be introduced to kiwifruit growers.

Shiitake mushroom [Lentinus edodes (Berk.)] can have an important role in specialty agriculture where land is limited. This research was the first step to improve mushroom cultivation technology in Iran using locally available lignocellulosic materials as substrate and supplemental materials. Effects of lignocellulosic substrate and supplemental material on biological efficiency, spawn running period, average weight and number of fruiting bodies, and yield of shitake mushroom was determined. Lignocellulosic sources used were oak sawdust, maple sawdust, fir sawdust, and wheat straw, and supplemental materials added were wheat bran, rice bran, maize powder, and no supplemental material (control). The highest biological efficiency (92.35%) was obtained with oak as the lignocellulosic material. The highest fruiting body weight (33.51 g) was noted where rice bran was used as a supplement. Spawn running period was reduced 29.82% with oak sawdust compared to fir sawdust or wheat straw. The highest and lowest numbers of fruiting bodies were from oak sawdust and wheat straw, respectively. There were no differences in yield between rice bran and the control. Substrate had a more pronounced effect on shiitake mushroom culture than did supplemental materials. The best substrate was oak sawdust and the best supplemental material was wheat bran.