Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Gibberellic acid and humic acid enhance vegetative growth and morpho-physiological traits of Taxus baccata L. 215 230 FA Meisam Tahmasb pour karimi Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University meisamkarimi14@gmail.com N Mahnaz Karimi Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University karimi1320@gmail.com Y Hossein Moradi Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University h.moradi@sanru.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.215 The yew (Taxus baccata L.) is considered one of Iran’s valuable plant resources and, due to excessive harvesting and destruction of its natural habitats, is at risk of destruction and extinction. This tree can be used as a single tree or as a hedge in urban green spaces. The growth rate of plants is an important factor when selecting them for planting in green spaces. The yew tree is classified as a slow-growing plant, which limits its use in urban landscaping. To investigate the effect of gibberellic acid and humic acid on improving vegetative growth and morpho-physiological characteristics of yew seedlings, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The first factor was gibberellic acid at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mg g-1) applied as foliar spray, and the second factor was humic acid (0 and 1000 mg g-1) applied through root irrigation. The results showed statistically significant differences among the treatments regarding the traits studied in yew seedlings. The highest number of lateral buds was observed in treatments with humic acid, gibberellic acid 100 mg g-1 combined with humic acid, and gibberellic acid 100 mg g-1 without humic acid. The greatest shoot length growth was found in humic acid treatments without gibberellic acid and gibberellic acid 50 mg g-1 treatment without humic acid. The highest chlorophyll content was observed in plants treated with gibberellic acid 50 mg g-1, showing an 11% increase compared to the control. The highest flavonoid content was in the gibberellic acid 50 mg g-1combined with humic acid treatment, and the highest antioxidant content was recorded in gibberellic acid treatments of 50 and 100 mg g-1 without humic acid. Analysis of leaf nutrient content showed that phosphorus levels increased in all treatments where humic acid was applied. Application of gibberellic acid and humic acid treatments, compared to untreated plants, improved growth, especially by increasing the number of lateral buds and branches. Moreover, in addition to improving vegetative growth, physiological traits and internal nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the plants showed significant increases compared to the control. Flavonoid and antioxidant compounds also significantly increased compared to the control plants. Therefore, the use of gibberellic acid and humic acid, either alone or in combination, is recommended to improve vegetative growth and morpho-physiological traits of yew.   Chlorophyll, gymnosperms, hormone, organic substances http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-347-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-347-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Effect of growth-promoting bacteria on morphophysiological traits of ornamental cabbage under lead stress 231 246 FA Zmarialy Tani University of Zanjan z.tani@yahoo.com N Mitra Aelaei University of Zanjan maelaei@znu.ac.ir Y Seyed Najmeddin Mortazavi University of Zanjan Mortazavi@znu.ac.ir N Masoud Arghavani University of Zanjan arghavani@znu.ac.ir N Fahimeh Salehi University of Zanjan fahime.salehi@znu.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.231 Ornamental cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) belongs to the family Brassicaceae. Heavy metals, including lead (Pb), are considered among the most important soil pollutants due to their non-degradable nature and long half-life. In this context, bacteria, particularly plant growth–promoting bacteria (PGPB), represent an important strategy for alleviating such stresses. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of the plant growth promoting bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida on mitigating lead stress and improving morphophysiological traits in ornamental cabbage cultivar ‘Kamum’. The experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). The first factor consisted of lead stress at three levels: 0 (control), 25, and 50 ppm. The second factor included three inoculation treatments: non-inoculated control, inoculation with Bacillus subtilis, and inoculation with Pseudomonas putida, applied at a concentration of 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹. The experiment was carried out with four replications under greenhouse conditions at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan. Morphophysiological traits including: leaf number, leaf surface, root length, fresh and dry root weight, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, ion leakage, malondialdehyde, total phenol and leaf lead were measured. The results indicated that lead stress and effectiveness of bacteria on all traits was significant. The effect of interaction between bacteria against lead stress was also significant positively in some features such as amount of phenol, number of leaves and their area, fresh and dry weight and length of roots. The lead treatment decreased root fresh and dry weight, root length, carotenoid and chlorophyll content and increased phenol. The application of P. putida in the absence of lead led to the improvement of growth indicators including the number and area of leaves, fresh and dry weight and length of root. P. putida increased chlorophyll, carotenoid and phosphorus and decreased ion leakage, malondialdehyde and lead under stress conditions compared to the control. Given that heavy metal stress causes significant disturbances in plants, it is essential to identify the characteristics affected by such stresses and the strategies to mitigate them. The research findings indicate that lead stress and bacteria have a significant impact on all examined traits. The interaction effect of bacteria against lead stress also influenced certain traits, such as phenol content, leaf number and area, fresh and dry root weight, and root length. Furthermore, the application of Pseudomonas bacteria under lead stress conditions resulted in increased chlorophyll, carotenoids, and phosphorus levels, while decreasing ion leakage, malondialdehyde, and lead concentrations compared to the control group. Overall, the results of this study highlight the importance of using beneficial bacteria like Pseudomonas to enhance plant growth under lead stress conditions. This approach can serve as an effective strategy in sustainable agriculture and phytoremediation processes. Bacteria promote growth, Chlorophyll, Lead, Leaf area, Phytoremediation http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-316-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-316-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 The Effect of Spirulina and Sargassum Seaweed Extracts on Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Ornamental Violet (Viola ×wittrockiana) Under Salinity Stress in Greenhouse Conditions 247 268 FA Majid Maleki SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. majid.maleki@srbiau.ac.ir N Sepideh Kalateh Jari SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. kalatehjari@srbiau.ac.ir Y Ali Mohammadi Torkashvand SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. A-mohammadi@srbiau.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.247 The use of seaweed extracts to mitigate the effects of environmental stresses in plants is of particular importance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of seaweed extracts (Sargassum vulgare and Spirulina platensis) on the growth, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of ornamental violet (Viola ×wittrockiana) under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included salinity stress at three levels (0 (control), 3, and 6 dS/m-1 NaCl) and fertilizer at five levels (control (NPK), 1% and 2% Spirulina liquid extract, and 1% and 2% Sargassum liquid extract). The results showed that salinity stress at 6 dS/m-1 significantly reduced fresh and dry shoot weight, flower number and longevity, and photosynthetic pigments. Salinity stress increased the activity of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, soluble carbohydrates, and proline, with the 2% Sargassum extract further enhancing these compounds. Among the seaweed extracts, Sargassum had a more pronounced positive effect on all studied traits, with the 2% concentration being the most effective. Overall, the findings indicated that ornamental violet is sensitive to salinity stress, and seaweed extracts - particularly Sargassum - improved growth and metabolic compound production, thereby alleviating the negative effects of salinity stress.   Catalase, Flower longevity, Proline, Seaweed, Toxicity. http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-345-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-345-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Propagation of Persian yellow rose (Rosa foetida Herrm.) through softwood cuttings treated with plant growth regulators indole-3-butyric acid and salicylic acid 269 284 FA Shahed University Zeinababdoljabari97@gmail.com N Orang Khademi Shahed University o.khademi@shahed.ac.ir Y Shahpour Khangholi Shahed University khangholi@shahed.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.269 Persian Yellow Rose (Rosa foetida Herrm.) is native to Iran and is one of the wild species in the Rosa genus. Beyond its ornamental value, this plant possesses countless medicinal properties, yet it has attracted little attention despite its potential for cultivation due to both aesthetic and therapeutic benefits.In this study, propagation of Persian Yellow Rose via softwood cuttings was investigated using the plant growth regulators auxin (IBA) and salicylic acid (SA). Softwood cuttings, 15 cm long and approximately 0.5 cm thick, were collected in August 2023. All leaves except one were removed. Cuttings were treated with either indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or SA at concentrations of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg L-1, with distilled water as a control. They were then placed in a substrate of 70 % sand and 30 % perlite.After three months, once rooting had occurred and new shoots emerged, the cuttings were evaluated for root and shoot traits. Results showed significant differences among treatments (except for stem diameter). The highest rooting percentage (95 %) was achieved using 2,000  mg L-1 SA (36 % higher than the control). While the treatment with 2000 mg L-1 IBA showed 60 % rooting, it exhibited 10 % less rooting compared to the control and had a higher decay percentage. However, cuttings treated with 2,000  mg L-1 IBA showed the highest values in fresh and dry root weight, root volume, shoot length, fresh and dry shoot weight, and leaf number. Meanwhile, cuttings with 2,000  mg L-1 SA exhibited the greatest main-root length and diameter, though in most traits they did not differ significantly from the control. Overall, applying IBA and SA especially at high concentration (2,000 mg L-1) proved effective at enhancing rooting characteristics and rooting percentage, respectively, in Persian Yellow Rose cuttings. It appears that combining both growth regulators may yield even more effective results, which future research should investigate. Plant growth regulator, Rosa foetida Herrm., Rotting, Softwood cuttings http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-334-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-334-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Investigating the amount of absorption of environmental pollutants and the resulting changes on some physiological indicators on Robinia pseudoacacia and Platanus orientalis 285 300 FA Mahmoud shor Ferdowsi University of Mashhad shoor@um.ac.ir Y Mohamad Ahmadi Hosseini Ferdowsi University of Mashhad sm.ahmadihosseini@yahoo.com N Ali Tehranifar Ferdowsi University of Mashhad tehranifar@um.ac.ir N Vahid Akbarpour Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University v.akbarpour@sanru.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.285 In addition to affecting the health of city dwellers, air pollution also affects the growth and quality of trees in urban green spaces. Cultivation of plant species resistant to air pollutants has a great effect on improving the air quality of cities. Therefore, in order to investigate the amount of absorption of environmental pollutants and the resulting biochemical changes on some physiological indicators of locusts and plantain trees, an experiment was conducted in Mashhad city in 2018-2019. Sampling was done from trees of almost the same age in the summer season. Leaf samples were taken from each tree at the lower, middle and upper levels of the canopy and from the outer branches. Physiological traits included chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoid, biochemical traits, some heavy elements and enzyme activity such as carbon hydrates, proline, protein, cadmium, lead, catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were investigated to determine the correlation with the absorption of environmental pollutants. The results showed that the amount of chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoid decreased and the amount of carbon hydrates, proline, protein, cadmium, lead, catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase showed a significant increase in acacia and plantain trees.   Air Pollutants, Natural Purification, Physiological Responses, Urban Green Space http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-275-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-275-en.docx

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Introduction and comparison of the tolerance of ten sword lily hybrids to the population of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetanychus urticae Koch) 301 312 FA Asghar Hosseininia Department of Technology and Production Management, Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC), Horticultural Sciences Research Institute (HSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)gricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) asghar.hosseini.nia@gmail.com Y Zahra Mojib-Hagh ghadam Researcher of Plant Protection Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Gilan Province(ARCG), Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (iripp), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran. mojibzahra@gmail.com N Mohamad Hossein Azimi Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC), Horticultural Sciences Research Institute (HSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)gricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) m.h.azimi58@gmail.com N Mazaher Yosefi Plant Protection Department, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Gilan Province (ARCG), Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (iripp), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Arak, Iran. mzyousefi@yahoo.com N Anoushe Yousefbeiki Department of Technology and Production Management, Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC), Horticultural Sciences Research Institute (HSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)gricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) Anousheh.y@gmail.com N Abbas Shahriari Department of Technology and Production Management, Ornamental Plants Research Center (OPRC), Horticultural Sciences Research Institute (HSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)gricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO) ashahriari60@gmail.com N Roghayeh Zarei N 10.61186/fop.10.2.301 Modifying and introducing new sword lily codes, along with innovation, is very important. Four Amsterdam, Whitepraspree, Adonis Red, and Rosesoprim cultivars of Gladiolus grandifloras, Iridaceae, Asparagales were used as parents for hybridization and were evaluated in the research greenhouse of the Flower and Ornamental Plants Research Institute. From 48 progenies (OPRC1 to OPRC48 codes), 10 promising hybrids were selected, and the resistance, susceptibility, and tolerance to the two-spotted spider mite were investigated by the plant resistance index method. With this index, three resistance assessments (antixenosis, antibiosis, and tolerance) were simultaneously analyzed. In the tolerance evaluation of 10 selected hybrid codes, after keeping 100 female mites on each plant, apparent damage was determined from the scale (1-6). Two-spotted spider mites of the same age were used to evaluate antibiosis. On each leaf of each bush, an adult female mite was released. Events were recorded for 30 days, and the number of offspring born was counted, and the innate reproductive rate was calculated and considered as the antibiosis effect of the hybrids. Plant resistance index using the formula (PRI)=1.XYZ, in which (PRI) was the plant resistance index, X: antixnose index (number of Mites counted after 72 hours), Y: antibiosis index (intrinsic rate of population growth), and Z: tolerance index based on the scale (1-6). The results showed that the hybrid code (3-5) showed the highest non-preference, followed by the hybrid code (4-1) and (9-8) in the next groups. As a result of the tolerance evaluation, Yellow-2 and (9-11) hybrids showed the highest tolerance against 30 female mites per leaf unit and were placed in the first and second groups. Antibiosis results showed that the yellow-2 and Red-1 hybrids were divided into the first and second groups and had the highest antibiotic effect. Based on the Resistance Index (PRI), the highest resistance to the two-spotted spider mite was estimated for the Yellow-2 hybrid code.   Gladiolus, Hybid, Resistance, Tetranychus urticae http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-337-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-337-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Fluctuations of nutrient element concentrations in bulb, leaf, and root tissues of autumn daffodil (Sternbergia lutea) throughout its growth cycle 313 336 FA Sara Alipanah saraalipanahzinaty@gmail.com N Farzad Nazari f.nazari@uok.ac.ir Y Mahmoud Koushesh Saba m.sabaa@uok.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.313 The autumn daffodil (Sternbergia lutea) is a bulbous plant in the Amaryllidaceae family. Its bright yellow flowers bloom in autumn, and it has low water requirements, making it a promising candidate for development as an ornamental plant in landscaping. This study, conducted from September 2017 to October 2018, evaluated fluctuations in the elements N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Cu were evaluated during three stages: entering dormancy (June), during dormancy (July), and exiting dormancy (October). These fluctuations were assessed in different tissues of the bulb (outer scales, inner scales, basal plate, and bud), as well as in the leaves and roots of the autumn daffodil. Results indicated that during the entering dormancy stage, the highest concentrations of N, Cu, and Zn were found in the basal plate, while the outer scales had the highest P content; Fe showed no significant variation at this stage. During the dormancy phase, the inner scales exhibited the highest levels of N, and the buds had the highest P levels, while Cu, Fe, and Zn were primarily associated with the basal plate. In the exit from dormancy stage, the basal plate contained the highest amounts of N, P, and Fe, Zn peaked in the bud, and Cu levels were comparably high in both the bud and basal plate. Throughout all three stages, the outer scales consistently had the highest K content. In the second part of the experiment, the highest concentrations of N, P, K, and Zn in leaf tissue were recorded during the exit from dormancy stage. Conversely, the highest amounts of Fe and Cu were found during the entering dormancy stage. In root tissue, the exit from dormancy stage yielded the highest levels of N, P, Cu, and Zn, whereas K and Fe were most abundant during the entering dormancy stage. Understanding the patterns of nutrient fluctuations across tissues and physiological stages of the autumn daffodil provides a solid scientific basis for optimizing nutrient supply timing. Coordinating nutrition with the plant's growth and dormancy phases can enhance growth performance during the current season and improve the quality and uniformity of flowering in the next growth cycle. This approach increases nutrient use efficiency and can contribute to higher productivity in the cultivation of this ornamental species. Bulbous plants, Dormancy, Landscape, Nutrient elements http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-356-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-356-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 In vitro propagation of the endemic ornamental tree, Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica (DC.) C.A. Mey) 337 352 EN Zahra Salehi Ardali Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran z.salehiardali69@gmail.com N Alireza Timnak Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran alirezatnk@gmail.com N Esmaeil Nezami Department of Plant Breeding, Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institue (NSTRI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran enezami@yahoo.com N Abolfazl Jowkar Department of Plant Breeding, Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institue (NSTRI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Karaj, Iran ajowkar@gmail.com Y 10.61186/fop.10.2.337 Parrotia persica (DC.) C.A. Mey is an ornamental tree native to the Hyrcanian forests in northern Iran. It displays stunning, colorful leaves in autumn and mosaic cream-grey trunks that exfoliate in winter. Because traditional horticulture methods have limited success in propagating Persian ironwood, using plant biotechnology tools to conserve and develop this endangered species is essential. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to optimize the micropropagation process of this plant. The excised shoot segments with one axillary or apical bud were dipped into 70% ethanol for 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, or 150 s, followed by disinfecting the explants in sodium hypochlorite at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 0.75, or 1%) for 10, 15, or 20 min. Moreover, the disinfecting effect of silver nanoparticles at0, 100, 200, or 400 mg L-1 was also examined. The established shoots were cultured on MS or WPM media containing Benzyl adenine (BA) (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 mg L-1), Thidiazuron (TDZ) (0, 0.022, 0.044, 0.088, 0.176 or 0.352 mg L-1) or combinations of BA (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 mg L-1) with 0.01 mg L-1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were used for shoot proliferation. Rooting was studied using treatments of IBA (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg L-1) or Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg L-1). The best explant sterilization procedure, with the highest survival rate (p < 0.05), used 70% ethanol (120 s), 0.75% sodium hypochlorite (20 min), and 200 mg L-1 silver nanoparticles (90 min). The WPM medium supplemented with 0.088 mg L-1 TDZ produced the highest mean shoot number (3.85; p < 0.05). Using either 1 mg L-1 IBA or 0.5 mg L-1 NAA produced the best rooting performance. Finally, the rooted plantlets were moved to greenhouse conditions and successfully acclimatized in pots containing vermiculite:perlite (1v:1v), with a 100% survival rate. This study's achievements can pave the way for future restoration plans and breeding programs for P. persica. Micropropagation, Parrotia persica, Persian Ironwood, Rooting, Shoot proliferation, Tissue culture http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-359-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-359-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Evaluation of the aesthetic and ecological traits of ornamental trees and shrubs in urban green spaces (case study: region four of Rasht city) 353 380 FA Taher Deljooye Tohidi University of Guilan mani_lakan@yahoo.com N Mohammad Reza Khaledian University of Guilan, mkh572000@yahoo.com Y Moazzam Hassanpour Asil University of Guilan, hassanpour1@gmail.com N Abdullah Hatamzadeh University of Guilan, hatamzadeh@guilan.ac.ir N Mahmood Ghasemnezhad University of Guilan, ghasemnezhad@guilan.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.2.353 For the development of sustainable green spaces, the evaluation of plants used in urban green spaces is of great importance. These spaces are created and maintained under human supervision and management to improve living conditions and welfare in cities. Aesthetic and ecological characteristics are among the main criteria for selecting ornamental trees and shrubs for urban parks. Numerous studies have been conducted on plant selection in green spaces, but research specifically evaluating the aesthetic characteristics of ornamental trees and shrubs is less common. This study identifies and prioritizes ornamental trees and shrubs in the urban green spaces of District 4 of Rasht, Iran, based on expert opinions. To analyze the results and data, three methods were used: AHP (weighting and ranking of indicators), TOPSIS (ranking trees and shrubs based on indicators), and the VIKOR method (multi-criteria ranking based on the "proximity" to the "ideal" solution(. The results showed that among the 7 identified indicators for trees and 8 tree and shrub, among tree indices the "landscape beauty" indicator with a coefficient of 0.145 and "leaf beauty" with a coefficient of 0.125 ranked first and third, respectively, while the ecological indicator "heat resistance" with a coefficient of 0.138 secured second place. Indicators such as "branching pattern" and "tree height" with a coefficients of 0.05 and 0.055 ranked lowest. Among shrubs indices the, "landscape beauty" with a coefficient 0.138 and "flower color" with a coefficient 0.094 ranked first and third, while "heat resistance" with a coefficient 0.121 ranked second. Indicators like "leaf beauty" and "cold tolerance" with a coefficients 0.054 and 0.06 ranked lowest. Among trees, the Zelkova carpinifolia tree with a coefficient 0.869 ranked first, followed by Parrotia persica and Ginkgo biloba trees with a coefficients 0.802 and 0.745 ranked second and third and Pterocarya fraxinifolia and Populus caspica Bornm trees with a coefficients 0.228 and 0.240 ranked lowest according to experts. For shrubs, Cercis siliquastrum with a coefficient 0.996 ranked first, while  Lagerstroemia indica and Callistemon citrinus shrubs with a coefficients 0.829 and 0.821 secured second and third places and Deutzia gracilis’ Forsthya intermedia shrubs with a coefficients 0.286 and 0.358 ranked lowest. The VIKOR analysis yielded similar results, suggesting that plant selection in similar climates can prioritize methods like TOPSIS, AHP, and VIKOR. Aesthetic, Zelkova carpinifolia trees, Parrotia persica, Cercis siliquastrum and Lagerstroemia indica shrubs, AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR methods http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-350-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-350-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Evaluating postharvest indices of Iranian daffodil (Narcissus tazetta L.) 381 394 FA Sahar Mirzaei AREEO sahar_mirzaei81@yahoo.com Y Mehrangiz Chejhrazi chehrazi_m@yahoo.com N 10.61186/fop.10.2.381 Narcissus (Daffodil) with the scientific name of Narcissus tazetta L. is a perennial bulbous plant from the Amaryllidaceae family. Narcissus is one of the most important ornamental bulbous plants that is used as a cut flower. Therefore, this project was carried out to evaluate postharvest indices of Iranian daffodil genotypes. In this research, the bulbs of narcissus native genotypes were collected from natural narcissus fields in different regions of Iran. Then, bulbs were planted in the research field, and plants were taken care of during their growth. Then, the flowering stems were transferred to the laboratory to check their storage capacity and quality in the postharvest period, and various morphological and physiological parameters such as storage period, percentage of rotten branches, percentage of wilted flowers, flower quality, and amount of chlorophyll, carotenoid, and flavonoid were evaluated. According to the results of this experiment, Mazandaran genotypes showed the highest morphological and physiological indices as storage period (8.55 days), percentage of rotten branches (10%), percentage of wilted flowers (10%), flowers quality (1 indice) and amount of chlorophyll (1.31 mggr-1), carotenoid (0.90 mggr-1) and flavonoid (1.11 mggr-1) in postharvest duration. After that, Khuzestan showed the highest values of storage period (6.77 days), percentage of rotten branches (23.33%), percentage of withered flowers (23.33%), flowers quality (2.16 index), and amount of chlorophyll (1.24 mggr-1), carotenoid (0.94 mggr-1), and flavonoid (1.05 mggr-1). Therefore, Mazandaran and Khuzestan had the highest parameters for keeping as cut flowers.   Chlorophyll, Flavonoid, Longevity, Narcissus Flower, Wilting http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-311-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-311-en.pdf

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Selection of Ornamental Plant Species for Urban Landscape in Hot and Arid Cities Based on a Climatic Analogue Approach: A Comparative Study of Ahmedabad (India) and Ahwaz (Iran) 395 410 FA Mohamadreza Salehi Salmi Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan Salehi@asnrukh.ac.ir Y 10.61186/fop.10.2.395 The development and maintenance of urban landscapes in hot and arid regions are confronted with substantial challenges arising from extreme heat stress, limited water resources, and declining soil quality. The primary objective of this study was to identify and prioritize ornamental plant species adapted to such harsh environmental conditions by employing a comparative approach based on climatic similarity between Ahwaz (Iran) and Ahmedabad (India). To this end, a systematic field survey was conducted across major urban green spaces in Ahmedabad, during which plant species were recorded and identified based on their effective presence in the landscape, overall health status, and performance under conditions of heat and drought stress. The collected data were analyzed using a multi-criteria scoring matrix incorporating key indicators, including tolerance to extreme heat, low water requirements, salinity tolerance, adaptability to poor soils, aesthetic value, and non-invasive behavior. Out of a total of 617 identified species, 58 were ultimately selected as high-potential candidates for application in the urban green spaces of Ahwaz. The results revealed that species belonging to families such as Fabaceae and Apocynaceae exhibited the highest level of compatibility with the target climatic conditions, largely due to their favorable morphological and physiological traits that enhance resilience to environmental stressors. These findings demonstrate that the use of climatically analogous cities as ecological models represents an efficient and low-risk strategy for the development of resilient urban green infrastructure. Overall, this study provides a practical and evidence-based framework for urban green space managers and landscape planners, enabling informed plant selection aimed at enhancing ecological sustainability and improving the quality of urban landscapes in hot and arid environments.   Climatic analogue approach, Ecological sustainability, Heat stress, Plant selection, Urban landscape http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-365-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-365-en.docx

Iranian Society for Ornamental Plants Flower and Ornamental Plants 2676-5993 2676-5993 10 2 2025 10 1 Evaluation of Foliar Application of Sulfuric Acid, Humic Acid, and Potassium Nitrate on Seed Yield and Some Physiological Indices of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) 411 426 FA Parasto Nourelahi Plant Production and Genetics Department parasto.nourelahi@yahoo.com N Alireza Abdali Mashhadi Plant Production and Genetics Department alirezaabdali@asnrukh.ac.ir N Ahmad Koochekzadeh Plant Production and Genetics Department koochekzadeh@asnrukh.ac.ir Y Mohamad Hossain Gharineh Plant Production and Genetics Department m.gharineh@asnrukh.ac.ir N 10.61186/fop.10.1.411 Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) is an ornamental plant also valued for its medicinal compounds and seed oil. In calcareous soils with high pH, nutrient uptake is restricted. Sulfuric acid increases the solubility of elements by reducing soil pH. Humic substances enhance plant performance by chelating nutrients and improving photosynthesis. Potassium is also effective through enzyme activation and stress mitigation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of potassium nitrate, sulfuric acid, and humic acid on the reproductive and some physiological indices of marigold. The experiment was conducted as a split-plot factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with three factors and four replications at the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. The factors were: potassium nitrate at three levels (control, 250, and 500 mg·kg⁻¹ soil), sulfuric acid at two levels (control and 5 L·ha⁻¹), and humic acid at two levels (control and 16 kg·ha⁻¹). The results showed that the highest plant dry weight (574 g·m⁻²), seed yield (343 g·m⁻²), and seed oil yield (49.9 g·m⁻²) were obtained with the combined application of 500 mg·kg⁻¹ potassium nitrate and 16 kg·ha⁻¹ humic acid, indicating their synergistic effect on nutrient uptake. The highest SPAD chlorophyll index (39.7) was observed under the combined treatment of sulfuric acid and humic acid. The three-way interaction of all factors increased plant fresh weight to 3791 g·m⁻², confirming the pivotal role of humic acid in enhancing biomass. It is concluded that the integrated application of potassium nitrate, sulfuric acid, and humic acid improves soil conditions, nutrient uptake, and microbial activity, thereby enhancing the growth traits, seed yield, and oil yield of marigold.   Calcareous soil, Harvest index, Seed, Soil pH http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-371-en.html http://flowerjournal.ir/article-1-371-en.pdf