Magnetic field improved germination parameters. The germination of Catharanthus roseus seeds is lost under salinity conditions. The effect of different strengths of magnetic field and exposure durations on the germination of C. roseus seeds under salinity conditions (19 mS cm-1) were investigated. The experiment was conducted with factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 magnetic field strengths (50, 100 and 150 mT) and 3 exposure durations (10, 20, and 30 minutes). It was found that exposure to magnetic field improved seed germination under salinity conditions, so that the highest germination percentages of (74.44 and 73.05%) were obtained from 20 and 30 minutes exposure to the 100 mT magnetic field, respectively, which resulted in 28% higher germination than control. Also, these treatments were found to be the best for germination rate and vigor indices I and II. The highest radicle length (2.37 cm) and plumule length (3.50 cm) were related to the 20 minutes exposure in 50 mT magnetic field and the 10 minutes exposure in the 100 mT magnetic field. The highest radicle dry weight of 0.24 g and plumule dry weight of 0.81 g was observed in treatment of 10 minute exposure to the100 mT magnetic field. Manuscript profile

The effect of potash biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer was studied on quantitative and qualitative traits of periwinkle in a factorial experiment based on a Randomized Complete Design with three replications, 48 experimental units, and two factors: (1) different methods of potash bio-fertilizer application at four levels of control (B0), seed inoculation (B1), root inoculation (B2) and seed inoculation × root inoculation (B3), and (2) different rates of potassium on fertigation at four levels of 0 (K0), 100 (K1), 200 (K2) and 300 mgL-1 (K3). It was found that the longest shelf life of 35.58 days was related to the treatment of root inoculation × 100 mgL-1 K. The highest number of auxiliary branches (3.66), number of leaves (42.88), plant fresh weight (17.69 g), number of flowers (4.46), and chlorophyll a (10.61 mg g-1 F.W.) were obtained from the treatment of seed inoculation × 300 mgL-1 K. The treatment of root inoculation × 200 mgL-1 K was the best treatment for plant potassium content (28.9 mgkg-1). The highest petal anthocyanin content amounted 178.04 mg 100 g-1 D.W. was observed in the treatment of ‘seed inoculation × root inoculation’ × 0 mg l-1 K. The best treatment of enhancing of qualitative and quantiative traits of periwinkle was seed inoculation × 300 mgL-1 K. Manuscript profile

The impact of phenylphthalamic acid (PPA) rates including 0 (PPA0), 1000 (PPA1000), 2000 (PPA2000) or 3000 (PPA3000) mgL-1 and perfect fertilizer rates including 0 (PF0), 100 (PF100), 200 (PF200) and 300 (PF300) mgL-1 was studied on vegetative and reproductive growth of ornamental pepper plants. To realize this, a factorial experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. It was found that the interaction between ‘PPA × PF’ improved the measured traits; so that the shortest time to flower initiation (55.40 day), the shortest time to fruit set (62.93 day) and the highest fruit number (98.12 fruit) were related to the application of ‘PPA2000 × PF200’. Plants treated with ‘PPA2000 × PF300’ exhibited the most number of flowers (117.36), number of flowering stems (7.4), diameter of flowering stem (3.7 mm), plant height (45.83 cm), fruit fresh weight (6.71 g), fruit dry weight (3.79 g), plant fresh weight (21.96 g) and plant dry weight (15.17 g). Also, this treatment exhibited the highest fruit anthocyanin content and total chlorophyll. Conclusively, the application of ‘PPA2000×PF200’ is recommended because of the lower consumption of perfect fertilizer and the greater effect on traits having a beautiful and economic value for ornamental peppers. Manuscript profile