The study of the response of some physiological characteristics and grain yield of Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea L.) cultivars to drought stress and foliar application of chelated nano iron

In order to study the effect of foliar application of chelated nano iron and drought stress on physiological changes and grain yield of purslane cultivars, an experiment was conducted as split plot factorial randomized complete block design with three replications in Ahar Agricultural Research and Natural Resources Station during 2015. The experimental factors included drought stress levels, 90 (control), 70, and 50 field capacity, two levels of chelated nano iron, 0 (control) and 1 lit.hr, and two cultivars (Tehran and Kazeron). Results showed that foliar application of nano iron under drought stress had a significant effect on some traits, so that the highest content of chlorophyll b (4.47 mg/g leaf tissue) was recorded under normal irrigation and foliar application of nano iron chelated, the highest sodium concentration (38.87%) was obtained from 50% filed capacity and non foliar application of chelated nano iron, and the highest potassium content (87.68%) was obtained under drought stress conditions of 50% filed capacity and foliar application of chelated nano iron. Considering the significance of interaction effects, the highest amount of proline (1.22 mg/g fresh weight), soluble sugar (96.92 mg/g fresh weight), and iron (1.11%) was obtained from Kazeron cultivar under drought conditions, 50% filed capacity by non foliar application of chelated nano iron. The highest amounts of chlorophyll a (6.99 mg/g of leaf tissue), carotenoids (1.67 mg/100 ml), and anthocyanins (0.017 mg/100 ml) were recorded by foliar application of chelated nano iron in Kazeron cultivar under normal irrigation. Also under stress conditions, the use of chelated nano iron compared to control increased the grain yield by 32.66% and Kazeron cultivar was superior to Tehran cultivar, so that the seed grain yield of Kazeron was 1.31 more than that of Tehran.