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Pod length is one of the effective components on canola yield selection on the basis of which can increase not only the seed yield but also the oil yield. Molecular markers asso-ciated with long pod loci were identified in a doubled haploid population derived from a cross between the canola lines ‘Quantum’ (long pod) ‘China A’ (short pod) using RAPD and bulked segregant analysis. A molecular marker linkage map of 37 loci for this popu-lation was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling pod length of which two markers in two unlinked loci were selected by using an interval mapping model which explained 22% of phenotypic variation for pod length in this population. Selection for markers at two loci for increasing pod length resulted in a group of doubled haploid lines with an average 112 mm pod length that increased 15% of whole population mean. This shows that using these markers in the breeding program will enhance the breeding of long pod canola varieties.

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The transfiguration of a person into a corpse is one of the mythological and symbolic elements in Kurdish folktales. In transfiguration, the shape and nature of creatures are changed from one state to another by using supernatural power of person or creature. The current study was carried out in a descriptive-analytical method based on the library sources and field research. In this research, using mythic criticism, the roots of petrification were investigated. Then, the way people faced it, as well as the causes and tools necessary to get rid of this change, were discussed. The results showed that the reflection of mythical beliefs, passing through history and reaching the present age, in Kurdish folktales, shows the immortality and dynamism of these beliefs, by deciphering and analyzing of which, the common root of this mythological view can be discovered and interpreted.
 

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Quantitative valuations of observed heterosis for 11 traits of 15 F1 hybrids generated by half diallel crosses of six diverse rice cultivars (Domsefid, Hashemi and Binam, three Iranian local cultivars; Dorfak, Kadous and IR30, three improved cultivars), were made in this study. Fifteen F1 hybrids and their parents were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of the University of Guilan at Rasht, (Iran) in 2006. The studied traits were growth period, reproductive period, flag leaf area, plant height, panicle length, number of panicles per plant, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, brown grain length and brown grain width. The significance of specific combining ability (SCA) and general combining ability (GCA) for all studied traits revealed that both additive and non-additive gene effects contributed to the inheritance of the traits. Assessment of standard heterosis based on check variety Dorfak showed that there was significant heterosis for all the traits studied in the 15 hybrids. For grain yield, the Dorfak×Domsefid cross had the highest heterosis. This hybrid had good heterosis values for many traits such as growth period, reproductive period and 1000-grain weight and was recommended as the most promising combination for developing high yielding hybrid rice varieties.

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Froriepia subpinnata is an endemic endangered medicinal plant growing indigenous to Caspian coast forest in the north of Iran. This research was done to obtain primary information on morphological and phytochemical variation for the next step of domesticating and breeding of this plant. Twenty-three morphological traits measured indicated high variation among 52 accessions. There was a significant positive correlation between leaf dimension, plant height, and attributes related to biomass data. The range of phytochemical attributes analyzed was for total phenols (355.6-941.3 mg GAE 100 g^-1 FW), total flavonoids (204.33-540.74 mg CAT 100 g^-1 FW), total carotenoids (1.52 to 3.15 μg 100g^-1 FW) and antioxidant capacity (31.36-81.82 DPPH%.). The HPLC analysis results showed that chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic compound generally found in this plant. Total carotenoids had no significant correlation with other biochemical traits, while the rest exhibited a linear relationship with each other. UPGMA cluster based on combined data of morphological and biochemical traits showed 3 distinct groups with high inter and intra-regional variations. Also, these information were combined with molecular data to separate environment and genetic effects. The high level of variation of phytochemical and morphological traits among and within populations could be a useful tool for future breeding and selection programs.