Aegilops tauschii, the diploid progenitor of the wheat D-genome, is a valuable genetic resource for wheat breeders. In this study, we compared the efficiency of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) (as an arbitrary technique) and start codon targeted (SCoT) (as a gene-targeting technique) markers in determining the genetic diversity and population structure of 90 accessions of Ae. tauschii. SCoT markers indicated the highest values for polymorphism information content, marker index and effective multiplex ratio compared to ISSR markers. The total genetic diversity (H_t) and genetic diversity within populations (H_s) parameters were comparably modest for the two marker systems. The results of the analysis of molecular variance showed that the genetic variation within populations was significantly higher than among them (ISSR: 92 versus 8%; SCoT: 88 versus 12%). Furthermore, SCoT markers discovered a high level of genetic differentiation among populations than ISSRs (0.19 versus 0.05), while the amount of gene flow detected by ISSR was higher than SCoT (2.13 versus 8.62). Cluster analysis and population structure of SCoT and ISSR data divided all investigated accessions into two and four main clusters, respectively. Our results revealed that SCoT and ISSR fingerprinting could be used to further molecular analysis in Ae. tauschii and other wild species. The high-genetic variability found in this study also indicates the valuable genetic potential present in the investigated Ae. tauschii germplasm, which could be utilized for future genetic analysis and linkage mapping in breeding programmes.

In this study essential oil components of sixteen thyme genotypes from 4 species (T. daenensis, T. kotschyanus, T. lancifolius, T. fedchenkoi T. pubescens) were assayed by GC and GC-MS. Total of 10 chemical compounds could be identified among these species. Thymol, carvacrol, geraniol and α-terpineol were reported more than 24 percentages (24.75 to 83.34%). It is evident that the highest levels of volume percentage of essential oils and thymol in first group of claster analysis, linalool, geraniol and geranyl acetate in second group and borneol and carvacrol in last group were observed. Factor analysis showed that three factors explain 70 percentage of variation between genotypes. These factors classified different chemical components to 3 chemical types (ether, alcohol and total essential oil, phenol). Regarding the PCA analysis, T. kotschyanusi (Azerbayjan) and T. pubescens (Zanjan) were highly correlated with borneol, p-cymene and cineole. Also T. daenesis (Markazi), T. lacifolius (Markazi) and T. daenesis (Isfahan/Ferydan) were highly correlated with total essential oil.

Seed production depends on many factors. In this study, two independent experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of pollination time, crossed node spacing, male flower age, number of crossings on each plant and deletion/non-deletion of other fruits in the crossed nodes on the cross-ability and seed production in greenhouse cucumber. In every experiment, three mentioned factors were assayed based on factorial experiment as a randomized complete block design. Crosses were done on 10 plants in every replication of treatments. The results showed that pollination at 8:00‒9:45 AM, led to higher amount of full seed weight in contrast to other times of pollination. Increasing crossed node spacing from 2‒3 to 4‒5 nodes led to an increase in the number of empty seeds, which was ascribed to the reduced seed production. The highest amount of number of seeds per fruit, seed weigh and number of full seeds were obtained when young male flowers were used. Moreover, higher seed production was obtained from five, instead three crossings on each plant, and the non-deletion of fruits on the crossed nodes. Overall, higher percentage of seed production per fruit was obtained when crossing was done with young male flower in early morning and high number of crossing in every plant.