---

Salinity is one of the important environmental factors that limit plant growth and product. Grapes are classified as salt sensitive plants. This paper attempts to evaluate the salinity effects on membrane lipid peroxidation, antioxidant components and antioxidative enzymes activity in four grape genotypes (Vitis vinifera L., Gharashani, LaaleBidaneh, Sachagh and Shahroodi) that commonly grow in the regions around Urmia Salt Lake. We came to the conclusion that malondialdehyde content and antioxidative enzymes activity increased significantly (P<0.05) in roots and leaves of all these genotypes. Gharashani and LaaleBidaneh genotypes showed higher antioxidative enzymes activity and lower membrane lipid peroxidation. Also, salinity had a significant effect on the accumulation of total phenolics content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in all genotypes. Gharashani genotype showed the highest total phenols and PAL activity. There was a significant positive correlation among antioxidant enzymes activity, total phenolics content and PAL activity in leaves of all genotypes. It seems that Gharashani and LaaleBidaneh genotypes have a better antioxidant system compared with others and show higher efficiency for salinity tolerance.

---

This investigation was carried out to evaluate Indole acetic acid (IAA) production by isolated bacteria from drought and salinity affected soils. Four hundred bacteria were isolated from soils with different levels of electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Then the ability of these bacteria to produce IAA and the effects of different amounts of tryptophan and drought-salinity tensions on IAA production were analyzed. Results indicated that the effects of drought and salinity tensions on variability of IAA production were statistically significant. One of the bacterial species isolated from saline-sodic soils, Arthrobacter siccitolerans, was IAA producer and data comparison indicated that under drought stress conditions it produced IAA 84.3% higher than isolate RS11. While isolated RS11 produced highest rate of IAA (10.42 µg.ml^-1) under normal conditions. Also, A.siccitolerans continued to produce IAA until the EC was 40 dS.m^-1 and OP (Osmosis pressure) was -20 bar. The amount of IAA production per unit of applied tryptophan in this bacterium was 0.1 and in others it was lesser. According to experiments, the relative preference of this bacterium was verified and proposed for field experiments in drought, salinity and salinity-sodicity affected soils.

---

Tea was planted in Lahijan by Kashefalsataneh in 1930. The main concern about important commercial plants such as tea is the formation of ice crystals in low temperatures. This can damage the live cells leading to lowering the quality of the plant and eventually its death. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress is the result of various environmental stresses leading to freezing. Investigating the variations in any of these factors could help to understand the mechanism of freeze resistance in ever-green plants. The aim of the present research was to investigate lipid peroxidation, the presence of antifreeze protein and variations in the activity of some antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidize (APX) and catalyse (CAT) in tea leaves subjected to 20, 0, -2, -5 and -8°C in tea leaves from the north of Iran. The results showed formation of an antifreeze protein with MW of about 20 KD in response to cold stress. It was also found that the activity of SOD, APX and CAT increased in tea leaves due to cold stress. The activity of SOD increased down to -8°C. APX and CAT increased their activity down to -5°C. On the other hand, the lipid per oxidation factor, MDA, was also elevated in response to the cold stress.

---

The genus Crataegus L. has a wide distribution in Iran. Induviduals of Crataegus meyeri Pojark. show morphological variations in different regions. In this research, the effects of climatic variations on morphological traits of C. meyeri were studied. Seventy five specimens collected from nine provinces of Iran were measured in two sets of quantitative and qualitative traits. Statistical analysis of climatic data and morphological traits showed that wind and temperature were the most effective factors affecting the variety of morphological traits including leaf blade of short shoot and flowering shoot, indumentum of fruit surface and fruit shape. Relative humidity has also been correlated with the shape of the fruit base. Quantitative traits of leaf blade of short shoots and flowering shoots showed the highest correlation and leaf blade of elongate shoots with the least statistical correlation with climatic data.

---

Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii and is transmitted by more than 40 tick species. This study aimed to identify the tick species in goats of Meshkin-Shahr, Ardabil Province, Iran, and their role in the transmission of C. burnetii. A number of 365 goats were inspected for the infestation of hard ticks in a randomized sampling design, during a 1-year period from April 2013 to April 2014. A total number of 280 tick specimens were collected and identified and were then examined by molecular methods for the presence of C. burnetii infection. 40.8% of the infected animals had at least one species of tick. The goats which were studied were found to be infested by the following tick species: Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (33.9%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (22.1%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (17.1%), Hyalomma excavatum (11.1%), Rhipicephalus bursa (5%), Hyalomma detritum (3.9%), Hyalomma dromedarii (3.6%), Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum (1.8%), and Hyalomma marginatum (1%). There were no significant differences between the infestation rate in different seasons, genders and ages of the animals which were studied (p=0.05). The molecular assay of 280 tick specimens revealed the presence of C. burnetii infection in 5 out of 40 pool samples (6-8 tick individuals of the same species in each pool), including H. anatolicum anatolicum (3 pools), H. excavatum (1 pool) and R. sanguineus (1 pool). The present study, therefore, reports the rate of C. burnetii infection transmitted by hard ticks in North-West of Iran for the first time. According to the zoonotic aspect of Q fever, further studies on the carriers as well as other hosts of the infection were found to be necessary.

---

Salinity tolerance of four grape genotypes [GharaUzum, Hosseini, AghUzum and Keshmeshi] was studied under various salinity levels (25, 50 and 100 mM NaCl). As a result, growth indices were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by salinity, whereas Cl^- and Na⁺ contents in the plant parts were increased. Cl^- accumulation exceeded than that of Na⁺ in all treatments. Among the genotypes studied, GharaUzum and Keshmeshi had the lowest and highest Cl^- concentrations in the leaf lamina, respectively. Photosynthesis and transpiration rate as well as stomatal conductance were greatly reduced by salinity and were shown to be highly correlated with leaf Cl^- content. GharaUzum showed lower reduction in photosynthesis parameters. Soluble sugars, proline and glycine betaine contents increased in the leaf lamina of all the genotypes studied treated with moderate salinity (50 mM). In conclusion, the results showed that GharaUzum and Keshmeshi had the highest and lowest salt stress tolerance among the genotypes studied, respectively.
 
 

---

In order to investigate the effect of drought stress (field capacity, 50 and 30% of field capacity) and foliar spraying with selenium and carbon quantum dots nanoparticles (zero and 2 mg L^-1) on the growth and some physiological traits of rosemary; A factorial experiment was conducted in the form of  completely randomized  design in the research greenhouse of Azerbaijan Shahid Madani University during 2023. Irrigation at field capacity and 50% of field capacity with carbon quantum dot spray increased the aerial part dry weight, nitrogen, and soluble solids content in the plant. The highest malondialdehyde content was observed in the 30% field capacity in the condition without foliar spraying. The proline content was increased by 50 and 30% field capacity with the application of carbon quantum dot nanoparticles. Field capacity treatments, 50 and 30% of field capacity with carbon quantum dot foliar application increased the essential oil content. Rlative water content, carotenoid, chlorophyll b and phosphorus content increased in the field capacity and 50% field capacity treatment with both nanoparticles foliar application. Overall, the results showed that the use of carbon quantum dot nanoparticles had a positive effect on the growth and physiological traits of plants under drought stress