This experiment was conducted in a private orchard (Kosar) in district of Shahriar of Alborz province (Iran), during 2012-2013, to determine the effects of B and Zn applied on flowers at full bloom stage on leaf macro and micronutrient contents at 90 days after full bloom (DAFB) of three pear cultivars (Spadona and Duchesse and a pear cultivar from Iranian national collection, named as Daregazi). The deviation from the optimum percentage (DOP) index of macro and micronutrients for two studied years was used to evaluate the nutritional status: optimal (DOP = 0), deficiency (DOP < 0) or excess (DOP > 0). The SDOP for two studied years is obtained by adding the values of DOP index irrespective of sign. The larger the SDOP, the greater is the intensity of imbalances among nutrients. In general, a DOP value close to the optimum level (DOP = 0) were observed in treated studied pear cultivars with B and Zn applied on flowers at full bloom stage compared with the control trees (without any application of boron and zinc). The DOP_macro and DOP_micro were, respectively, positive and negative for all of studied pear cultivars regardless of treatments. According to £DOP index (during 2012-2013), the combination of both products (borax+zinc sulfate treatments) at full bloom stage applied on flowers of three pear cultivars (Spadona, Duchesse and Daregazi) showed better balanced nutritional values than the rest of treatments.

Aim of study: Determining leaf nutrient status of some grafted-pear rootstocks grown under different calcareous soil types. Area of study: The Horticultural Research Station of Kamalabad, Karaj, Iran. Material and methods: Leaf mineral element concentrations were determined in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Leaf sampling was carried out about 90 days after full bloom. The N-content was estimated by the Kjeldahl method. Total concentration of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) were also determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were analyzed using the flame photometry. The deviation from optimum percentage (DOP) and its correlation with the Sigma DOP of macro- and micro-nutrients were used to determine the nutritional status of the studied plants. Main results: In clay loamy soil pyrodwarf rootstock, which was grafted with 'William Duchess' scion, presented a more suitable balanced nutritional index than other rootstocks/scion combinations. The OHF69 rootstock grafted with 'Daregazi' offered better balanced nutritional values in fairy lime silt-loamy soil, whereas the pyrodwarf rootstock grafted with 'Louise Bonne' scion in less lime silt-loamy soil was found to have higher values than other studied rootstocks/scion combinations in terms of nutrient concentration. Research highlights: The study determined effective solutions to the field problems of calcium carbonate equivalent which distinctly affect the soil properties related to plant growth. It also revealed the most suitable pear rootstock/scion combinations in different calcareous soil types for orchard establishment in arid and semi-arid regions.

Worldwide, the nutritional value and health benefit of apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) has been known. The present study was therefore undertaken to assess the effects of CaCl₂ pre harvest treatment on some of the biochemical properties and fruit quality of "Jahangiri" (Prunus armeniaca L.) apricot at harvest time and during four weeks cold storage at 0°C. The combined analysis of variances indicated that year had a significant influence on all studied parameters of "Jahangiri" cultivar. CaCl₂ pre harvest treatments also affected significantly the most of studied parameters. The interaction between year and Ca treatment was also significant. Results of these tests showed that pre harvest application of Ca foliar spray increased some of biochemical properties (protein, free amino acid and non protein) and fruit quality (fruit density) of apricot cultivar "Jahangiri". In addition, the contents of fruit-Ca, -Mg, -N, and vitamin C were higher than those in the control at harvest time and after four weeks storage at 0°C. The characteristics that correlated best with the fruit Ca content included fruit pH, fruit density, vitamin C of fruit and fruit Mg. The results also showed that the most effective pre-harvest CaCl₂ application for apricot "Jahangiri" was found to be 0.5 % Ca Cl₂ in 46 days after full bloom.