Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 The effects of blue-green algae Nostoc commune aqueous extract on the growth parameters, metabolite contents, and antioxidant capacity in seedlings of a local Iraqi rice (Amber) variety 1 11 8141 10.22099/iar.2025.51996.1659 EN Shaymaa Muneam Saeed Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, I. R. Iran Ehsan Nazifi Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, I. R. Iran Aref Sheikh Amiri Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2024 12 23 Blue-green algae have significant potential for enhancing the productivity of various agricultural crops. In this study, the effects of <em>Nostoc commune</em> extract on the physiological parameters of a local rice variety were evaluated. The extract was prepared at a concentration of 0.5 g per 100 mL of distilled water, and rice seeds were treated with extract dilutions of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. Different concentrations of <em>N. commune</em> extract produced varied physiological responses in rice. All extract concentrations significantly increased radicle length and seedling weight. Germination percentage was significantly improved by 20% and 60% treatments, while the 40% concentration notably enhanced hypocotyl length. In terms of biochemical parameters, all concentrations significantly increased metabolite content. Most concentrations also led to a significant rise in chlorophyll levels, and carotenoid content was the highest in 100% extract treatment. The 60% concentration resulted in the highest carbohydrate and protein levels. The greatest accumulation of phenols and flavonoids was observed with the 20% extract. Additionally, antioxidant capacity was significantly enhanced by the 20% and 40% concentrations. Overall, based on improvements observed in both growth and biochemical parameters, aqueous extract of <em>N. commune</em> at concentrations below 60% can be recommended as an effective biostimulant and biofertilizer for enhancing rice yield. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8141_ebfc4d507193713ed6dd18caadcc38ac.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Towards Appropriate human resource management in the administrative system of Agriculture Jihad of Iran: Yazd Province 12 24 8180 10.22099/iar.2025.52563.1675 EN Negin Fallah Haghighi Department of Technology Development Studies (DTDS), Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, I. R. Iran Hossein Azadi Department of Geography, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Journal Article 2025 02 25 Agricultural management is considered as a vital component of government frameworks in many countries, and transformation within this management is essential for improving the administrative system to implement policies and provide services. This qualitative study aimed to analyze human resource management (HRM) issues within the administrative system of agricultural organizations, using grounded theory as its methodological framework. The study’s population consisted of policymakers, planners, and managers working in the Agriculture Jihad Organization of Yazd Province, Iran. The population was selected via purposeful sampling. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews, which continued until theoretical saturation and data redundancy were achieved. Through the coding process, identified issues in HRM within the agricultural administrative system fell into three main categories: a lack of design and establishment of an optimal performance monitoring and evaluation system, inadequate organizational performance in the domain of human resource development (HRD), and deficiencies in organizational management performance. Furthermore, by integrating the results from open and selective coding, a paradigmatic model of HRM issues in the agricultural administrative system was presented, incorporating causal, contextual, intervening conditions, strategies for action/reaction, and outcomes. Ultimately, based on this paradigmatic model, the interrelations among issues were elucidated within a conceptual framework, and studies were recommended to establish an optimal system for the performance monitoring and evaluation of employees. This was to create a connection between this system and the reward and remuneration system. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8180_0627a29e4571385d2dcc426a59440af2.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Potential of chia seed gum as an edible coating for preserving quality of blood orange fruit (Citrus sinensis (L.) cv. ‘Moro’) under ambient storage conditions 25 33 8187 10.22099/iar.2025.53106.1685 EN Golrokh Heidari Krush Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, I. R. Iran Somayeh Rastegar Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, I. R. Iran Hadi Hashemi Gahruie Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Asghar Ramezanian Department of Horticultural Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R Iran Journal Article 2025 05 03 Blood oranges are susceptible to various fungal infections and biochemical changes that contribute to quality deterioration during storage. This study investigated the effect of chia seed gum (CSG) coatings at different concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) on weight loss (WL), fruit juice content, total soluble solids (TSS), peel color, browning index (BI), and decay index (DI). The results showed that oranges coated with 0.75% CSG experienced a slower reduction in weight, juice content, and <em>b*</em> value during storage compared to the other treatment groups. Uncoated samples exhibited higher WL, TSS, <em>a*</em>, and chroma values than the coated fruits. Moreover, the BI and DI were significantly lower in the coated oranges. The coatings helped reduce moisture and juice loss, thereby maintaining fruit quality during storage. Based on these findings, postharvest treatment with 0.75% CSG is recommended as an effective method to preserve quality and extend the shelf life of blood oranges. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8187_bd7475edb6ea48f4c1d3d7b0fbd25f54.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Effects of Oliveria decumbens and Ferula assa-foetida essential oils and their nanoemulsions on Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella) 34 40 8235 10.22099/iar.2025.53081.1684 EN Faezeh Bagheri Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Mohammad Ramezani Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Fatemeh Raouf Fard Department of Horticultural Sciences, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. Journal Article 2025 04 29 In this study, effects of essential oils and their nanoemulsions extracted from <em>Oliveria decumbens</em> flowers and <em>Ferula assa-foetida</em> oleo-gum-resin were evaluated on late-instar larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth (<em>Ephestia kuehniella</em>). The selected concentrations of the essential oils and their nanoemulsions were as follows: <em>O. decumbens</em> essential oils (250, 300, 370, 410, and 490 µL/L), <em>F. assafoetida</em> essential oils (100, 120, 150, 210, and 270 µL/L), <em>O. decumbens</em> essential oil nanoemulsion (170, 230, 300, 350, and 410 µL/L), and <em>F. assa-foetida</em> essential oil nanoemulsion (30, 60, 90, 110, and 130 µL/L). The results showed that the nanoemulsion of <em>F. assa-foetida</em> essential oil was more effective than that of <em>O. decumbens</em>, with a 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 79.249 µL/L being more effective than a 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 284.991 µL/L. In addition, the toxicity levels of <em>F. assa-foetida</em> were considerably higher than those of <em>O. decumbens</em> in both its nanoemulsion and essential oil forms, with lethal dose ratios recorded at 0.278 and 0.456, respectively. These findings suggest that essential oils could serve as an alternative to synthetic pesticides for controlling Mediterranean flour moths. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8235_c4c8f7351725192883062a8c5fa02039.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Effects of bagasse and its biochar on the leaching of solutes and water uptake by field pea (Pisum sativum L.) under controlled and free drainage conditions and irrigation with municipal wastewater 41 52 8336 10.22099/iar.2025.52450.1672 EN Tohid Balouchi Anarak Department of Water Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, I. R. Iran Mohammad Shayannejad Department of Water Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, I. R. Iran Ali Reza Mokhtari Khozani Department of Water Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, I. R. Iran Mehdi Gheysari Department of Water Science and Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, I. R. Iran Hamid Reza Eshghizadeh Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 02 11 This study examined the effects of sugarcane bagasse and its biochar on soil properties, field pea (<em>Pisum sativum</em> L.) yield, and nutrient absorption under different drainage conditions using municipal wastewater for irrigation. The experiment was conducted as a factorial design with two factors in a greenhouse. The first factor was drainage condition at two levels: controlled drainage (CD) and free drainage (FD). The second factor was the application of sugarcane bagasse and its biochar at four levels: 1% bagasse (BA1), 2% bagasse (BA2), 0.66% biochar (BIC0.66), and 1.32% biochar (BIC1.32). Municipal wastewater was used for irrigation throughout the study. Results showed that adding sugarcane bagasse and its biochar improved soil physical properties, particularly water holding capacity, with BIC1.32% being the most effective. In CD treatments, capillary rise provided additional water and nutrients, increasing irrigation water productivity for field pea by 1.8 times compared to FD. The controlled drainage also reduced water consumption by 22% and enhanced nitrate and phosphate absorption by 44.25% and 28.78%, respectively. However, it decreased nitrate leaching, phosphate leaching, and drainage water volume by 19.73%, 24.23%, and 31.23%, respectively. Additionally, nitrate and phosphate uptake by field pea increased by 75% and 13.3% under CD compared to FD. The interaction between additives and drainage treatments significantly affected plant weight, with the highest yield observed in the CD and BIC1.32% treatments. Overall, CD combined with BIC1.32%, BIC0.66%, BA1%, and BA2% increased plant dry weight by 26.2%, 13.2%, 25.8%, and 26%, respectively, compared to FD. These findings highlight the potential of sugarcane bagasse and biochar for enhancing soil quality, improving water-use efficiency, and boosting crop yields under various drainage conditions. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8336_5435a0f0fde6d1cdb7747ee7e427e68f.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Influence of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran as silage additives on the chemical composition and in vitro gas production of watermelon residue silage 53 61 8291 10.22099/iar.2025.52126.1663 EN Reza Mirshahi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, I. R. Iran Javad Bayatkouhsar Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, I. R. Iran Farkhondeh Rezaii Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, I. R. Iran Farzad Ghanbari Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, I. R. Iran Farid Moslemipoor Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 01 08 This study examined the chemical composition and gas production of watermelon residue (WMR) silage supplemented with sugar beet pulp (SBP) and wheat bran (WB) as additives. After seed removal, the WMR was manually sliced and ensiled either without additives or with 100, 200, or 300 g/kg of SBP or WB. Chemical composition and <em>in</em> <em>vitro</em> gas production parameters were then analyzed. The results showed that adding SBP or WB increased the dry matter. content and digestibility of WMR silage (<em>P</em> < 0.0001). Neutral detergent fiber concentrations rose with higher levels of SBP and WB, while acid detergent fiber concentrations and the potential degradability (a + b) of silages decreased linearly across treatments (<em>P</em> < 0.0001). In contrast, WB supplementation significantly reduced metabolizable energy, short-chain fatty acids, and organic matter digestibility (<em>P</em> < 0.0001). Gas production increased when WMR silage was treated with 10%, 20%, and 30% SBP and with 10% WB. Overall, these findings indicate that incorporating SBP or WB can improve the nutritional value of WMR silage. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8291_9dc2ccf9b23a3ead94904060076a0756.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Eco-enzymes: A sustainable solution for waste management and agricultural applications 62 78 8359 10.22099/iar.2025.52732.1679 EN Shno Karimi Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, I. R. Iran Maryam Haghighi Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, I. R. Iran Mehdi Sharifani Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 03 16 Organic waste is an attractive resource because of its potential to be converted into valuable commodities. It is primarily composed of food scraps, fruit remnants, and other biodegradable materials. When managed properly, composting this waste produces nutrient-rich soil, offering an environmentally friendly approach to waste management while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond composting, organic waste can be utilized in other sustainable ways. One option is energy generation through anaerobic digestion, while another is the production of eco-enzymes, an economical and eco-friendly alternative. Eco-enzymes have diverse applications, including use as organic fertilizers, disinfectants, and cleaning agents. Their production process is straightforward, requiring only a carbon source such as sugar or molasses, water, and organic waste. This simple yet effective approach supports a circular economy by reducing the accumulation of organic waste and making use of readily available resources. The development of eco-enzymes represents an important step toward a more sustainable future. By reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and providing a safe, non-toxic substitute for harmful chemicals, eco-enzymes foster a balance between economic progress and environmental preservation. This article examines the potential of eco-enzymes as a sustainable resource for both agriculture and waste management. Produced through a natural fermentation process, eco-enzymes offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers and conventional waste disposal methods. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8359_73d51f033679e617f648a46380fe636a.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Structural and metabolic responses of Holstein heifers to rumen undegradable protein supply 79 87 8309 10.22099/iar.2025.53330.1693 EN Hosein Mohammadkhani Department of Animal Science, Agricultural College, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, I. R. Iran Tahere Amirabadi Farahani Department of Animal Science, Agricultural College, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, I. R. Iran Najme Eslamian Farsuni Department of Animal Science, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shahrekord, I. R. Iran 0000-0002-7921-3302 Journal Article 2025 06 27 This study evaluated the effects of various levels of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) on performance, blood metabolites, and structural growth of Holstein dairy heifers. Seventy-two Holstein heifers (initial body weight = 128.7 ± 15.5 kg; age = 4 ± 0.31 months) were allocated into 12 pens, with 6 heifers per pen. The pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments over a period of 60 days. The dietary treatments consisted of three percentages of RUP (28%, 33%, and 38% of crude protein). Feed intake was recorded from each pen daily. The heifers were weighed every two weeks. Blood samples were taken on day 1, 30, and 60. Body condition score, back fat thickness, and skeletal growth were recorded on day 1 and 60 of the experiment. Increasing dietary RUP levels reduced dry matter, crude protein, and RDP intakes (<em>P</em> < 0.05), whereas it enhanced RUP and MP intakes (<em>P</em> < 0.01). Feeding different levels of RUP had no effect on final body weight, body condition score (BCS(, and back fat thickness (<em>P</em> > 0.05). Serum total protein and cholesterol concentrations increased (<em>P</em> < 0.05) in response to higher dietary RUP, whereas serum urea concentration decreased (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The RUP supplementation positively influenced wither height and body length growth (<em>P</em> < 0.01), but it did not affect other growth parameters (<em>P</em> > 0.10). Overall, supplementing prepubertal heifer diets with increased RUP levels enhanced the supply of metabolizable protein, improving structural growth and metabolic status without increasing fat deposition. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8309_15720b75bf01c38882fe00685f7ceb15.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 In planta transient recombinant production of a bispecific T-cell engager: Blinatumomab 88 96 8366 10.22099/iar.2025.53455.1696 EN Saeideh Dianatkhah Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Hiremath Chaitra Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria Melnik Stanislav Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria Lin Sun Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria Amin Ramezani Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R. Iran & Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Ali Niazi Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Alireza Afsharifar Research Center of Plant Virology, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R Iran Ali Moghadam Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Somanath Kallolimath Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria Journal Article 2025 06 12 Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) are increasingly being recognized as promising therapeutic molecules in tumor management. However, these largely artificial and complex antibody-based molecules are often difficult to express in conventional platforms. Here, we evaluated the recombinant expression of the approved dual-targeting bispecific T-cell engager Blinatumomab (BLIN) for its production in plants. A highly potent viral vector carrying the coding sequence of BLIN with a His tag was used for transiently expressing Blinatumomab in <em>Nicotiana benthamiana</em>. Four days post-DNA construct delivery, immunoblotting exhibited BLIN-specific signals in total soluble proteins (TSP) as well as in the intercellular fluid (IF), indicating secretion of the recombinant protein to the extracellular space. Co-expression of an RNA silencing suppressor (p19) increased BLIN-specific signals. While Ni-NTA purification from TSP resulted in insufficient BLIN quality, IF-derived BLIN was eluted as a single band at the correct molecular weight. The yield of IF-BLIN was approximately 15 µg/g fresh leaf weight, which is ten times lower than usually obtained for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Chromatographic profiling of IF-BLIN exhibited significant amounts of unwanted high molecular weight forms next to the targeted monomeric fraction. After purification of this fraction, the functional activity of IF-BLIN was confirmed by binding to cells expressing the targeted antigens CD3 or CD19. Collectively, we showed the successful production of functionally active BLIN in plants. Further optimization steps are required to improve the yield and quality of plant-produced BLIN.  https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8366_784eaaed72bb96fef0ee0b00d9f17e1d.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Multivariate analysis of agronomic and physiological traits in a wheat Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) under drought stress 97 109 8323 10.22099/iar.2025.54131.1704 EN Mohammad-bagher Zahedi Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Sirous Tahmasebi Department of Seed and Plant Improvement Research, Fars Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, I. R. Iran 0000-0001-6786-854X Ali Dadkhodaie Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran 0000-0001-7824-9162 Maryam Salami Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Bahram Heidari 0009-0006-3435-9347 Journal Article 2025 08 31 Drought stress is a primary constraint on global wheat production, necessitating the development of resilient cultivars. This study investigated the genetic basis of drought tolerance by evaluating a population of 169 wheat recombinant inbred lines (RILs) across two growing seasons under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions. We assessed seven key agronomic and physiological traits: relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (SPAD), plant height (PH), thousand grain weight (TGW), biological yield (BY), grain yield (GY), and harvest index (HI). Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant effects of genotype, year, and irrigation treatment on all traits. Drought stress consistently and significantly reduced all measured traits, with mean GY declining by approximately 25–30%. Correlation and principal component analyses (PCA) demonstrated structured relationships among traits under drought. Although BY remained a key determinant of yield, RWC was identified as a reliable positive indicator of sustained GY and BY under drought stress. In contrast, SPAD emerged as a prominent factor in the selection of drought-tolerant genotypes. Cluster analysis identified distinct subpopulations, highlighting RILs such as RIL_101 and RIL_41 that exhibited constitutive traits for high yield potential and robust water maintenance across environments (defined by the combination of irrigation treatment and year). Our findings demonstrated that drought resilience is governed by the maintenance of water status coupled with yield stability, rather than by vegetative greenness alone. The identified elite RILs provide valuable germplasm for breeding programs and for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with drought tolerance, thereby offering a pathway to the development of high-yielding, drought-resilient wheat varieties. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8323_68a816f66229479eb872a3ba7b6a7d4b.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Effect of foliar application of urea and 6-benzylaminopurine on grain yield and grain nutrient content of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. cv. Saji) under rainfed conditions 110 118 8378 10.22099/iar.2025.52656.1678 EN Hossein Alihoseini Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, I. R. Iran 0009-0009-3077-7279 Mohammad Javad Zarea Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 03 08 The benefits of foliar nitrogen feeding and exogenous cytokinin application on wheat performance, particularly their effects on grain yield and grain nutrient content, are of considerable importance. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of foliar urea and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) application on grain nutrient composition and yield in the ‘Saji’ wheat cultivar during the 2021–2022 growing season in Sirvan County, Ilam Province, Iran. The experiment followed a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three replications. Urea was foliar-applied at four concentrations (0%, 2%, 3%, and 4%, w/v), while 6-BAP was applied at two levels (0 and 100 mg L^–1). Foliar spraying was performed at the late flowering stage. Results indicated that the highest number of grains per spike (37.2) was obtained with the 3% (w/v) urea treatment, while a higher concentration (4%, w/v) negatively affected this trait. The greatest total grain weight per spike (1.77 g) and 1000-grain weight (47.8 g) were achieved with 3% (w/v) urea combined with exogenous 6-BAP application. The maximum grain yield (2180 kg ha^–1) was also recorded under this treatment. Additionally, the highest grain nitrogen (1.5%) and Zn (46.2 mg kg^–1) contents were observed with 3% urea application. These findings suggest that the foliar application of urea at lower concentrations, in combination with 6-BAP, represents an effective approach for enhancing grain yield and quality in durum wheat. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8378_358b011358fb843a5d8168f984266f1b.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 44 2 2025 06 01 Seed priming of Prunus scoparia through scarification and chemical treatments 119 125 8381 10.22099/iar.2025.52666.1677 EN Mohsen Zafaranieh Department of Agriculture, Technical and Engineering, Velayat University, Iranshahr, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 03 08 This study examined the effects of various pre-germination treatments on <em>Prunus scoparia</em> seeds collected from Zarand City in late summer 2024. The treatments aimed to overcome both mechanical and physiological dormancy. The seed coats were removed, and seeds were disinfected in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 15–20 minutes, followed by rinsing with sterile water. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Four factors were evaluated: scarification (control and sulfuric acid for 10 minutes), stratification (control, moist chilling at +4 °C, and dry chilling at −20 °C), potassium nitrate (0%, 1%, and 2% potassium nitrate), and gibberellic acid (0 and 200 ppm gibberellic acid). Primary evaluations of vital indicators such as seed germination and shoot length of plantlets revealed that seed scarification with sulfuric acid, moist chilling at +4 °C, and treatment with 200 ppm gibberellic acid significantly enhanced germination performance. The results indicated that the combination of mechanical scarification, moist chilling, and gibberellic acid treatment effectively overcame dormancy barriers in <em>P. scoparia</em> seeds. This study highlights the importance of tailored pre-germination treatments to improve seed viability and subsequent plant establishment. https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8381_fc7412d9ef4fe77d4e61fa80a38ef070.pdf