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We present a list of 25 Chrysididae species mainly captured at high altitudeson mountains of the Kerman province, Iran. Thenumerous records evidences the rich biodiversity present at high altitudes in Iranian mountainsup to an elevation of about 3000 m.The largest richness was observed in the 2100-2300m range. Elampus kashmirensis Nurse, 1902, Holopyga chrysonota appliata Linsenmaier, 1959, Chrysis quadrispina Buysson, 1887 and Chrysis sacrata Buysson, 1898 are new records for Iranian fauna.

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Biodegradable edible coatings, their enrichment with essential oils and their use on the surface of fruits are influential approaches that can reduce the problems of post-harvest management, thereby maintaining the quality of the produce. In this study, different concentrations of Arabic gum (0, 6 and 8% w/v) were used in combination with different concentrations of Shirazi thyme essential oil (0, 0.3 and 0.5% w/v), and their effects were measured with respect to various qualitative characteristics of fresh pistachio nuts which were evaluated for a period of 36 days under conditions of storage at a temperature of 3 ± 1°C. The results showed that the growth of mold and yeast and the growth of aerobic bacteria on the samples were significantly less than in other samples when using the 6% Arabic gum concentration enriched with the essential oil of Shirazi thyme at 0.3 and 0.5%. Also, adding the essential oil of Shirazi thyme (at 0.3 and 0.5%) to the formulation of Arabic gum (6%) managed to reduce the occurrence of water loss from the fresh pistacia and significantly reduced the weight loss from the samples. The addition of essential oil to the Arabic gum coating contributed significantly to the preservation of carbohydrates, chlorophylls, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants in the kernels of the fresh pistachios. Therefore, the use of edible coatings of 6% Arabic gum containing Shirazi thyme essential oil (at 0.3 and 0.5%) can maintain the quality and increase the shelf life of fresh pistachio.

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Softening, enzymatic browning and microbial activity are the most common problems of pomegranate arils during storage. In order to improve these problems, postharvest treatments of nitric oxide and cold storage were studied on pomegranate arils. Therefore, In order to evaluate the effect of temperature and different concentrations of nitric oxide on pomegranate arils, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. In this study, nitric oxide was used at concentrations of 0, 5 and 10 µM/L as liquid solutions. The arils were dipped in solution for fifteen seconds and were packed by polyethylene containers after drying at room temperature. They were stored at cold temperatures (2, 4 and 8°C). The qualitative, quantitative and biochemical parameters were measured on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of the storage period. The ANOVA results showed that the different concentrations of nitric oxide and storage temperatures caused significant differences among most of the evaluated parameters. The exposure of arils to nitric oxide at concentration of 10 µM/L and storage at 8°C caused them lower 50% weight loss and less 21% ion leakage, as well as higher marketability, anthocyanin content, total phenolic and antioxidant activity compared to arils of the control group storage at 2°C after 21 days. In general, arils treated with 10 µM/L of nitric oxide at 8°C showed the best apparent quality and storage life of pomegranate arils.    
 

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Green mold rot disease caused by Penicillium digitatum is the most economically important postharvest disease of lime fruit in all production areas. In this research, effects of essential oils (Cinnamomun verum, Eugenia caryophyllata, Thymus vulgaris, Zataria multiflora) for controlling green mold in Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia cv. Mexican lime) fruit were studied. Mexican limes were inoculated by Penicillium digitatum suspension and were immersed with the essential oils at three levels 0 (as control), 0.1 and 0.2% (v/v). Then, fruits were kept at 8±1^oC and 90-95% relative humidity for 21 days. The results showed that the essential oils significantly affected fruit decay, weight loss, L*, a*, b*, total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity. After 21 days of storage, total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity of treated fruit with essential oils were higher compared with the control. In addition, essential oils were effective in decay and water loss control, and decreasing L* and b* compared with the control. The garden thyme essential oil at 0.2% decreased postharvest decay seven times lower than control but increased total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity compared to the control 21 days after storage. Therefore, garden thyme essential oil has a strong effect on controlling green mold and maintaining quality of Mexican lime fruit.

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Abstract

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Ber fruit (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk) contains abundant polyphenols and is highly susceptible to enzymatic browning after harvest. In order to reduce browning and maintain fruit quality of ber fruit, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications. Experimental treatments included Aloe vera gel-based (20%) edible coating enriched with sesame oil 1%, honey 1% (ASH) and Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oil (ZEO) (0, 0.5 and 1%) and storage time (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days) at 6 ± 1°C and relative humidity of 90±5%. The results showed that edible coating application had significant effect on the quality characteristics of the ber fruit during storage. The combination of ASH with ZEO (0.5%), as an edible coating, significantly alleviated enzymatic browning by reducing PPO and POD activities on fruit during 28 days of storage. Fruits treated with ASH with ZEO (0.5%) reduced browning index (70%) compared to the control; while increased total phenol content and antioxidant activity (18.14%, and 31.16%, respectively) compared to the control after 28 days of storage. Also, ASH in combination with ZEO (0.5%) treatment decreased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (19.7%, and 17.8%, respectively) compared to the control after 28 days of storage. These results indicated that ASH edible coating in combination with ZEO (0.5%) can be a useful method for delaying ripening and senescence, extending the storage life of ber fruit.
 

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To increase the quality and shelf life of mango fruits (Manjifera indica cv. Langra), a factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a completely randomized design with three replications (18 fruits per replication). Mango fruits in mature green stage were harvested from a commercial mango orchard in Roodan city, Hormozgan province. The first factor was ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) with an intensity of 25 watts at three levels (0, 5 and 10 minutes), the second factor was ultrasonic radiation with a frequency of 35 kHz and a power of 280 watts at three levels (0, 3 and 6 minutes) and the third factor was storage time at five levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days). After the treatment with the mentioned proportions of UV-C and ultrasonic, the fruits were stored at 10°C and a relative humidity of 80-85%, and the sampling and the measurements were carried out at different times. Based on the results, ultraviolet and ultrasound treatments prevented the increase of L^¬ (lightness), a^¬ and b^¬  and pH and the decrease of fruit ascorbic acid over time. In ultrasound treatments, the highest amount of ascorbic acid (11.3 mg/100 grams) was found in irradiation for three minutes. In ultraviolet treatments, the decrease of ascorbic acid with time was less than the control, but there was no significant difference between five and ten minutes. Ultrasound treatment for 6 minutes prevented the significant decrease in fruit weight. On the 40th day of storage, the lowest amount of L^¬ in fruit flesh (89.44) belonged to ultraviolet treatment for five minutes. Therefore, within 40 days of storage of mango fruit, ultraviolet treatment for five minutes due to maintaining the appearance of the fruit (L^¬) and ultrasound treatment for three minutes due to maintaining the maximum ascorbic acid of mango fruit are recommended.
 

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The combined coating-effects of Sodium Alginate (SA) and Thyme Essential Oil (TEO) was investigated at three levels of, respectively, (0.0, 1.0, and 1.5 %) and (0.0, 0.3, and 0.5%) on fresh pistachio during 6 weeks of cold (3±1°C) storage. Physiochemical parameters (hull and hard-shell color, hull hardness, soluble sugar, chlorophyll, and soluble solids content) and microbial load (plate count agar) were measured every 2 weeks of storage. Similarly, the sensory attributes of pistachio were evaluated by trained panelists and Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) method from minimum (1) to maximum level (15) score. While weight loss of each pistachio sample increased during storage time, those treated with alginate had considerably less weight losses than other treatments. The pistachio treated with combination of SA (1%) and TEO(0.3 or 0.5%) showed significantly higher hull hardness, L* values, soluble sugar, chlorophyll, and lower growth of microorganisms (mainly yeast and mold) than other treated and non-treated (control) samples. The highest sensory scores of 12.3 and 10.6 for hull color of pistachio were related to samples coated again with combinations of SA (1%) and TEO (0.3 or 0.5%), respectively, and were significantly higher than the score of control sample (6.4). Since the pistachio treated with the above-mentioned concentrations of SA and TEO had significantly higher physiochemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes than the other samples, their quality indicators were superior to other treatments (including control samples) and, most probably, they had longer shelf lives and potential to preserve their natural characteristics of fresh pistachio during storage.

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The history of Tabaristän, from the late Sassanid era through the middle Islamic age, underwent significant social and political changes the result of which were independence seeking movements leading to some semi-independent local governments. Each of these governments claimed political and social governance over a particular region. Castles, as important and influential military bases, were means at the disposal of the commanders and governors to maintain their sociopolitical power. Among the known castles in the mountains of Mazandaran province, Pouläd Castle in Nour, the capital of Nour County, is one of the symbols of territorial defense. It is located on a tall mount off the city of Baladeh in Nour County. Being built on an elevated location and overlooking the important surrounding regions and strategic ways has made Pouläd Castle one of the important centers in the sociopolitical changes. The present study follows a field work method as well as a library research method to investigate the defense structure of Pouläd castle and its geopolitical and geostrategic role in the power distribution pattern over the region of Rouyän in Tabaristän during the Islamic middle ages. The results show that the builders had tried their best to enhance the stability of the castle by building several layers of walls, utilizing the slope of the mountain, building several defense towers, and using rocky and impervious points as natural forts. Architectural analysis shows that Pouläd Castle, with both its military and political functions, has had a prominent role in the political changes of western Tabaristän.
 

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Various culture media contain a variety of materials that affect plant growth and development. Finding the best media culture among the various materials is thus critical to plant productivity. This study was conducted based on a completely randomized design using eight treatments and three replications. The treatments included the ratios 30:10:60 of perlite-vermicompost-coco peat, peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat, coco peat-vermicompost-palm peat, perlite-vermicompost-palm peat, and the ratios 30:70 of peat moss-palm peat, coco peat-palm peat, perlite-palm peat, and vermicompost-palm peat. Cucumber seeds were planted in pots containing these culture media under greenhouse conditions. After the four-leaf stage, the morpho-physiological responses of the seedlings were evaluated. According to the findings, when compared to perlite-vermicompost-coco peat medium, peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat increased shoot fresh weight by 5.5-fold, root fresh weight by 4.5-fold, root dry weight by 5.8-fold, shoot dry weight by 7-fold, stem diameter by 1.7-fold, shoot length by 2.3-fold, root length by 1.3-fold, and leaf area by 3.8-fold. However, compared to seedlings grown in peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat medium, the amount of auxin and reactive oxygen species decreased while total soluble sugars and peroxidase increased in perlite-vermicompost-coco peat medium. Our findings indicate that the composition of peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat can be used as a beneficial medium to improve quality of cucumber seedling under greenhouse conditions.