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The severe epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB) as a devastating disease of cereal crops has occurred on wheat in North and Northwest Iran in recent years. The in vitro production of Deoxynivalenol (DON) was qualitatively evaluated in 41 Fusarium isolates collected from wheat heads associated with the scab disease, in Moghan area/Northwest Iran. Infected wheat heads were collected during 2004-2007. The isolation of causal agents was carried out using standard methods. According to morphological characteristics and using valid descriptions, all isolates belonged to Fusarium graminearum species complex and F. culmorum of which the former was dominant. In order to evaluate the potential of DON production in isolates, this mycotoxin was extracted and qualitatively examined by TLC method. The quantification of DON was achieved using HPLC method. TLC results indicated that 54.5% of studied isolates produced DON but there was no significant relationship between this property and cultivars or sub-regions or years. Also based on HPLC analysis, maximum content of DON was detected in F. graminearum isolated from cv. Izen green from Moghan Agro-industry company fields in 2004 at the rate of 5827.11 µgkg^-1. The results of present study show that DON mycotoxin is produced at various contents by F. graminearum isolates on different cultivars and from different origins/ years. Since DON plays a role in pathogenesis and is of paramount importance in contamination of wheat grains, these results give a better insight into the significance of this disease in Northwest Iran.  

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Mannea is the most important state, which was established before Median kingdom and ruled on vast part of northwestern Iran for several centuries. Manneaen were from Hurrian race and language and probably entered the region about 1500 B.C. In their political life although they suffered many inva-sions from Assyria and Urartu, they kept their political and cultural independence and expended their power and realm in next period. In spite of this historical fact and available archaeological data, up to the present time no notable study about Mannea has been conducted and therefore basic aspects of Manneaen culture have remained unknown. The present study undertakes to accomplish this.

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By selecting Northwest Iran as the early capital of Ilkhanid dynasty, Mongol rulers had governed this area for about one century which would have been the official route of administration and communication between Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, and Iran. The existence of three unknown rock-cut archetypes in Maraghe (new capital) and its surroundings are among the most controversial subjects for historians and archaeologists. Although the period between 1256 and 1335 is seen as a period of cultural interventions from Mongolia and Inner Mongolia into the Northwest Iran, the architectural influences during Mongol's dominion has been less considered by the scholars. In this way, recent archaeological developments related to this region are beginning to shed new lights on recognition the architectonic appearance and the application of these unique underground architectures in Northwest Iran. Considering comparative studies besides analytical expository of architectural evidences from Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeast China, this project is aimed at standardizing the identity of unknown rock-cut structures in Northwest Iran. According to the results, the combination of a corridor leading to one or more chambers is not entirely random in Northwest Iran but also shares an exact assimilation of those in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeast China.

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It is well documented that the Mongol rule in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries fostered the direct exchange of ideas and practices between diverse cultures and religions. From this point of view, while the Mongols believed in shamanism, they embraced other religions for several reasons, ranging from a personal desire for the spiritual gains to issues of control and political and social cohesion. Hence, century of Mongol domination in Great Iran (1256-1353 CE) witnessed the practice of Buddhism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. While the importance of the Ilkhanid period for the architectural history of the Islamic World has generally been acknowledged, explanations for the appearance of rock-cut buildings in Iran under the Mongol dominion, in contrast with Islamic architecture, are not very satisfying. By focusing on field studies, the aim is to catalogue rock-cut architecture of Ilkhanid Iran with certain parallels with Buddhist architecture, isolate construction phases of monuments of this type in northwest Iran. According to the results, while an investigation of Buddhist architecture in northwest Iran would reveal a vibrant portrait of life in Ilkhanid Iran by illustrating how Ilkhanid architecture responds to various faiths and traditions, it would be possible to have a fresh look at the sociopolitical history of Islamic Iran in collision with the Mongol culture.