Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Chitosan and humic acid as biostimulant seed coatings enhance germination and seedling growth in two forage pea varieties (Pisum sativum var. arvense (L.)) under drought stress 1 11 8675 10.22099/iar.2026.55662.1740 EN Elham Bahrabadi Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Yahya Emam Department of Plant Production and Genetics, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Reza Tavakkol Afshari Department of Agrotechnology, School of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2026 02 12 Forage pea is an important legume used as livestock feed; however, environmental stresses, particularly drought, significantly affect its germination and seedling growth. Seed coating technology is an effective strategy for enhancing seed germination and seedling growth under drought conditions. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of seed coating with chitosan (0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) and humic acid (16, 17, 18, and 19 g kg-1 seeds) under drought stress (0, -3, -6, and -9 bar) in two forage pea varieties (Pionir and Arda). Evaluations considered final germination percentage, mean germination rate, and shoot and root length. Overall, the Pionir variety showed higher final germination percentage, mean germination rate, and shoot and root length than the Arda variety under both normal and drought stress conditions. In the Arda variety, significant decreases in the measured traits were observed under -6 bar drought stress. The two cultivars showed significant differences in shoot length, whereas no significant differences were observed in root length The results for the Pionir variety indicated that seed coating with chitosan (0.2%) improved shoot length by 41.95% and root length by 30.15%, whereas humic acid (19 g kg⁻¹ seeds) increased shoot length by 28.79% and root length by 14.03%. Similarly, in the Arda variety, chitosan (0.2%) increased shoot length by 57.44% and root length by 8.07%, while humic acid (19 g kg⁻¹ seeds) improved shoot length by 32.87% and root length by 30.25%. Thus, these biostimulants can enhance forage pea seed germination and seedling growth.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8675_1371f79f0530cd4921daa1ee5ba70808.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 06 14 Culturable gut bacteria associated with the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lep.: Pyralidae) 12 19 8704 10.22099/iar.2026.55185.1732 EN Zohreh Izadi Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran Lida Fekrat Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran 0000-0002-5189-9488 Sareh Baghaee Ravari Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran Mohammad ZakiAghl Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran 0000-0001-5032-8344 Journal Article 2025 12 13 The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, is a pest of considerable global concern. The microbial communities associated with this species remain largely unexplored. In this study, we report the first isolation and comprehensive characterization of culturable bacterial symbionts from the larval gut of E. ceratoniae. Bacterial isolates were recovered from different larval instars and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach that included morphological, biochemical, and physiological analyses, supported by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results revealed a diverse gut bacterial community, revealing several isolates identified as members of the genera Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Exiguobacterium, Peribacillus, Pantoea, and Erwinia. These isolates displayed distinct phenotypic profiles, including differences in Gram reaction, oxygen requirements, and tolerance to a range of temperatures, pH levels, and salinity conditions. This characterization of the culturable gut bacterial community provides an essential foundation for understanding the functional roles of these symbionts in host nutrition, development, and detoxification. Moreover, the findings open new avenues for research aimed at exploiting these bacterial symbionts to develop novel, eco-friendly biocontrol strategies within integrated pest management (IPM) programs targeting E. ceratoniae.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8704_30beb2a61c30699ffd90f838ebccc4d5.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Foliar nitrogen dynamics and yield responses of sugarcane (CP69-1062) to urea and urea–ammonium nitrate under delayed fertigation in northern Khuzestan, Iran 20 26 8782 10.22099/iar.2026.54369.1714 EN Ali Motamedi Amin Department of Agricultural Research, Karun Agro Industrial, Inc., Shushtar, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2025 09 24 Delayed planting and variable spring rainfall frequently complicate nitrogen (N) management in sugarcane production systems in Iran. Despite the large scale of production, information on foliar N dynamics and crop performance under delayed fertigation with different N sources remains limited. This study evaluated the response of sugarcane cultivar CP69-1062 to nitrogen source (urea vs. urea–ammonium nitrate (UAN)) and fertigation timing (early June, 1‑week delay, and 3‑week delay). Furrow fertigation was applied either as urea (184 kg N ha–1) or UAN (97 kg N ha–1), with both treatments delivered in three monthly split applications. Statistical analysis using a Linear Mixed Model (LMM) showed that foliar N concentration decreased significantly as fertigation was delayed (P ≤ 0.05). However, UAN resulted in a significantly faster recovery of foliar N status compared with urea. Despite these differences in early-season foliar N dynamics, end‑of‑season quantitative and qualitative traits did not differ significantly between fertilizer sources (P > 0.05). In contrast, fertigation timing significantly affected yield‑related traits. Delayed application reduced stalk density and final biomass, indicating that the timing of N availability is more critical than the fertilizer source itself. Overall, these findings provide practical guidance for optimizing N management under delayed planting conditions and are particularly relevant for improving productivity in semi‑arid sugarcane production systems similar to those evaluated in this study.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8782_d419c4666e84f13e47583aa12aa35485.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Evaluating the efficiency of assisted treatments in the phytoremediation of multi metal-contaminated soil using Response Surface Methodology optimization approach 27 35 8796 10.22099/iar.2026.55708.1741 EN Ava Mohrazi Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz university, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Reza Ghasemi-Fasaei Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz university, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2026 02 19 Phytoremediation is a green, economic, and efficient tool for remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals. The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of growth regulator (GR) treatments (gibberellic acid (GA3) and indole acetic acid (IAA)), biological treatments (Thiobacillus and Bacillus subtilis), and chemical treatments (nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA)) on the phytoremediation efficiency of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal chelate, bacterial strain, and GR for maximizing the translocation factor (TF) of Cd were NTA, Thiobacillus, and GA3, respectively. For the phytoremediation of Zn, the optimal combination was NTA, Thiobacillus, and IAA. For Ni, the highest TF was achieved without chelate, while using Thiobacillus and GA3. Based on the TF values, the mechanisms governing metal uptake and translocation in maize appear to differ among metals and treatments. For example, the application of NTA increased the TF of Zn to above 1, indicating enhanced phytoextraction, whereas EGTA promoted Zn retention in the roots, reflecting phytostabilization. In the case of Cd, GA3 enhanced metal accumulation in the shoots. Regarding Zn, IAA was more effective in promoting shoot accumulation. These findings demonstrate that individual metals exhibit distinct responses even within the same plant and under identical experimental conditions, highlighting the need for metal-specific assisted treatments to optimize phytoremediation.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8796_f371303e1caf3502d4747f4e82203b48.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Interactive effects of irrigation and nitrogen regimes on Rhopalosiphum padi demography in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive barley cultivars 36 51 8800 10.22099/iar.2026.55727.1742 EN Maryam Aleosfoor Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran 0000-0001-9372-2122 Khatereh Zohrabi Dehdezi Department of Plant Protection, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Lida Fekrat Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, I. R. Iran 0000-0002-5189-9488 Aurang Kavousi Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2026 02 21 Sustainable control of cereal aphids under climate change requires a mechanistic understanding of how water and nutrient management interact with host drought tolerance to shape pest demography. The oat leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L., is a persistent constraint in cereal systems, yet its responses to combined abiotic and nutritional stress remain unclear. We evaluated irrigation and nitrogen effects on aphid life history across two barley cultivars differing in drought sensitivity. Plants were grown under three soil moisture levels (100%, 75%, and 50% field capacity) and three nitrogen rates (0, 75, and 150 mg N kg⁻¹ soil), and aphid demographic parameters were quantified using the age–stage, two-sex life table. The design quantified non-linear interactions among host drought tolerance, water availability, and nitrogen supply. The drought-tolerant cultivar 'Sararood' constrained aphid development and reproduction, particularly under water deficit, resulting in prolonged development and reduced intrinsic rates of increase (r), from 0.2272 d⁻¹ on 'Afzal' under optimal irrigation to 0.0090 d⁻¹ on 'Sararood' under severe water stress. In contrast, aphids on the drought-sensitive cultivar 'Afzal' showed rapid population growth under full irrigation but showed collapse under drought. Nitrogen effects were context-dependent and interacted with both moisture regime and cultivar physiology; while nitrogen fertilization had negligible effects on developmental duration, it reduced the intrinsic rate of increase under severe drought in 'Afzal'. Notably, moderate irrigation combined with moderate nitrogen on 'Sararood' minimized aphid population growth, a resource-efficient regime. These results highlight co-optimization of cultivar choice with precision irrigation and fertilization as a climate-smart integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8800_d1d72a418753ac9c1fd002c723a68bc6.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Bibliometric and systematic analysis of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation research: Thematic evolution and intellectual structure 52 61 8805 10.22099/iar.2026.54822.1728 EN Md Rakibur Rahman Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Md Nurnobi Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Shabrin Jahan Shaili Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Md Mahedi Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh A K M Kanak Pervez Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh Journal Article 2025 11 10 The rising rate and severity of climate-related disasters have placed resilience as a key paradigm in the practice of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA). This paper is a mixed-method study that incorporates bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review to map the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of disaster and climate change resilience research in 2011-2025. We analyzed 83 Scopus-indexed documents (including 46 peer-reviewed articles) to measure trends in publications, collaboration networks, and thematic progressions, with a qualitative synthesis following PRISMA guidelines. Results indicate that the number of publications experienced geometric growth after 2018, due to international policy frameworks, including the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement. The field has a strong collaborative culture with 3.24 co-authors per document and an international co-authorship rate of 31.33%. The United States is also the most prolific contributor, with increasing influence shown by China, Australia, India, and South Africa. Thematic analysis shows that there was a conceptual shift between the early years (2016-2019), when there was a strong emphasis on adaptive management and adaptation, and integrated concepts of vulnerability (2020), resilience (2021), and climate resilience (2022), indicating a shift towards proactive capacity-building rather than reactive risk management. Although this has come to pass, there has continued to be a theory-practice gap, especially in the operationalization of resilience in context-specific settings. The study also shows that indigenous knowledge systems, gendered vulnerabilities, and Global South perspectives are underrepresented in the mainstream literature. The present study is a contribution to a comprehensive intellectual map of the field and the identification of priority areas of focus in translational research, inclusive resilience strategies, and policy interventions that bridge global frameworks with local realities.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8805_4757a375037ca8df2550b0557bad9a10.pdf

Shiraz University Iran Agricultural Research 1013-9885 45 2 2026 07 01 Biosynthesis of zinc-based nanoparticles using Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis: Effects on maize (Zea mays L.) growth indices and soil microbial activity 62 75 8889 10.22099/iar.2026.55658.1739 EN Narges Abdar Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran 0009-0006-9416-3135 Mehdi Zarei Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran and Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Higher Education Center of Eghlid, Eghlid, I. R. Iran Reza Ghasemi Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Alireza Afsharifar Plant Virology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, I. R. Iran Amir Ghaffar Shahriari Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Higher Education Center of Eghlid, Eghlid, I. R. Iran Journal Article 2026 02 12 Biologically synthesized nanoparticles have been considered environmentally friendly agents for improving plant growth in sustainable agriculture. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and maize (Z. mays L.). ZnO NPs were biosynthesized using Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with ZnSO4, Zn(CH3COO)2, and Zn(NO3)2 as zinc precursors. The morphological properties of the synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized, and their particle sizes ranged from 28 to 600 nm. The results showed that the application of ZnO NPs at 0.1 g L–1, particularly those synthesized using ZnSO4 in the presence of B. subtilis and E. coli, significantly increased the maize seed germination rate. Basal respiration in the treated soils was also significantly enhanced following the application of 0.5 g L–1 ZnSO4 and Zn(NO3)2 in the presence of B. subtilis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays showed that ZnO NPs at 0.625 mg mL–1 exhibited relatively low bactericidal activity against plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Chemically synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity against PGPR, whereas ZnO NPs that were biosynthesized with B. subtilis using Zn(NO3)2 showed relatively low inhibitory activity at 1.25 mg mL–1. Owing to the greater biocompatibility of biologically synthesized ZnO NPs compared to chemically synthesized ZnO NPs, these materials may serve as promising zinc fertilizers on zinc-deficient soils at relatively low concentrations.

https://iar.shirazu.ac.ir/article_8889_24289da7e65746a2370508d9eacec245.pdf