© 2015 Asian Economic and Social Society. All rights reserved ISSN(P): 2304-1455/ ISSN(E): 2224-4433 Volume 5(6), 150-157 150 REVIEWING MORPHOLOGIC SPECIFICATIONS OF ACORN LEAVES AND FRUITS IN LORESTAN PROVINCE Naser Nazar Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, I.R. Iran Saeedeh Delfan Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, I.R. Iran Farhad Zand Department of Social Science, Payame Noor University, I.R. Iran Abstract Zagros forests, as the greatest jungle area of the country, are considered not only as a high- economic zone in wooden products, but also as a highly important zone in environmental values. It should be mentioned that acorn is one of the main elements in the forests of Lorestan, and grows on different ecologic conditions’ realizing the variance-range of quantities and qualities aspects of leaves and fruits. This research has been done within the seven zones of Lorestan province’s acorn forests. 40 samples of leaf and fruit have been gathered from various trees. For each sample, 8 morphological aspects of fruit, and 16 morphological aspect of leaf were measured and recorded. Received data were statistically analyzed by Minitab ver.14 software. Results show that there are three types of acorn in the province of Lorestan: Quercus Persica (Persian acorn), Quercus Branti (Broodar), and Quercus Infectoria (Darmazoo). The quercus infectoria can be seen separately on the zone of Zasht & Ghalai; two types of branti and persica can be seen irregularly. On Ghalai zone, due to the rain fall rate and more humidity in comparison to other zones, suitable conditions are available for the growth of Quercus infectoria. Among the reviewed aspects in this research, leaf color, the existence of fluff on leaves, existence of teeth, and the length of grain cover have the greatest effect on the separation of Persia and branti from infectoria. Keywords: Quercus persica, quercus infectoria, quercus branti, Zagros forests 1. INTRODUCTION1 Disorders and problems of each matter attract more attention along with the increase of its importance (Mosadegh, 2004). Forest eco system, as the most complicated and an important ecosystem of the land, especially in the modern world, is not an exception to this rule (Jazirehee, 2003). After the growth area of Alborz, which forms the commercial forests of Iran, the growth area of Zagros has formed an important part of Iran forests on both quantity and quality values. Zagros forests, as the greatest jungle area of the country, are considered not only as a high- economic zone in wooden products, but also as a highly important zone in environmental values (Poorhashemi, 2004). It should be mentioned that acorn is one of the main elements in the forests Corresponding author’s Name: Farhad Zand Email address: naser.nazari2012@yahoo.com Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development journal homepage: http://aessweb.com/journal-detail.php?id=5005 mailto:naser.nazari2012@yahoo.com Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 151 of Lorestan, and grows on different ecologic conditions’ realizing the variance-range of quantities and qualities aspects of leaves and fruits (Rahimzadegan, 2004). Fatahi (1994) reviewed the acorn forests of Zagros, introducing the growth land of persica as mountain ramps and heights above 1670 meters. Sabeti (2003) introduces rush family in Iran as consisting of three types of rush, acorn, and chestnut growth in northern forests. Kafashzadeh et al. (2007) reviewed the morphological aspects of infectoria fruit of Kurdistan province forests, introducing the most variant attribute of the fruit as the length of fruit’s grain and the least variant attribute as the length of grain. Kafashzadeh et al. (2008) introduced the most variant attribute of the leaf as the surface area of it, and the least variant as the number of veins. 2. METHODS Lorestan, as a part of Iran’s western lands, is affected by semi-Mediterranean climate (Marvi and Mohamad (2003). This area is divided into different climate zones regarding norms of annual rain fall rate. Northern and north-eastern parts have cold mountain climate, central and western parts have mild climate, and southern parts have warm climate. Normal annual rain fall rate is 620 mm. Maximum falls is during winter, and minimum fall is during summer. Minimum altitude is 1030 m., and maximum is 2640 m. Normal annual temperature is 31.1˚c, and mean of minimum temperature in February is around -6˚c. Maximum and absolute maximum temperatures are -14.6˚c and 44.2˚c. This research about Lorestan province acorn forests are fulfilled in four zones of Khoramabad, Alashtar, Noorabad, and Dureh-Chagni. In order to review the climate conditions of the studied zones, 20-year meteorological statistics of the nearest stations are used. Table 1: Climate aspects of the seven studied zones A n n u a l r a in ra te (m l) A v er a g e tem p era tu re (c) M a x im u m tem p . (c) M in im u m tem p . (c) T em p . a v er a g e o f th e co ld est m o n th (c) T em p . a v er a g e o f th e h o ttest m o n th (c) R ela tiv e h u m id (% ) N o . o f fro st d a y s N o . o f ra in y d a y s N o . o f sn o w y d a y s Shoorab 507 17 47 -14 12 35 38 51 97 28 Dad Abad 475 19 49 -11 12 34 41 53 91 28 Maleh Shabanan 460 19 47 -12 12 35 41 48 93 29 Kahman 540 12 42 -21 10 32 47 71 108 31 Kaka Reza 482 13 40 -19 11 30 44 67 112 33 Zarin Chogha 525 14 41 -17 11 30 43 65 116 31 Zasht-o- Ghalaie 625 11 38 -27 7 27 52 91 124 43 2.1 Sampling technique According to the existing data, the time of acorn blooming in Lorestan is from the second half of April until the end of May, and the season of fall starts from the second half of November till the end of the month. Northern and north-eastern parts have cold mountain climate, central and western parts have mild climate, and southern parts have warm climate. Normal annual rain fall rate is 620 mm. Maximum falls is during winter, and minimum fall is during summer. Disorders and problems of each matter attract more attention along with the increase of its importance. Forest eco system, as the most complicated and important eco systems of the land, especially in the modern world, is not an exception to this rule. In each sampling zone, 40 trees were chosen randomly. From each tree a small branch with leaf and fruit was gathered. Gathered data were statistically analyzed by Minitab ver. 20 software. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 152 Figure 1: Measured attributes of acorn’s leaf: Length of petal (LP), Length of limb (LL), Total length of leaf(TLL), Maximum width of limb (MW), Maximum with from height (HMW), Base width of limb (LWB), width of limb from above(LWA), Minimum width length (LLW), Color of leaf (CLE), Puff (P), Number of lobs (NL), Length of lob (LLO), Width of lob (WLO), Tooth of leaf (TR), Length of tooth (LT), Width of tooth (WT) Figure 2: Measure attributes of acorn’s fruit: Length of grain (CL), Diameter of grain (CD), Diameter of naval (HD), Length of cup (CUL), Diameter of cup (COD), and Length of grain cover (CCL) 3. RESULTS After gathering samples in under-study zones, measuring desired attributes in leaf and fruit were done. Mean of each attribute in millimetres was identified, and then received measures about leaf attributes in the seven studied zones are as table 2. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 153 Table 2: Mean of measures in quantity attributes of leaf & fruit of acorn samples in the 7 zones Dad Abad Male shabanan Shoorab Kaka reza Zarin chogha Kahman Ghalaie LP 14 14.5 15 16 9 21 10.5 LL 96 100 70 94 110 85 79 TLL 83 114.5 85 110 120 106 90 MW 36.5 63 41 57 60 40 38 HMW 11 13.5 12 13 8 11 0 LWB 7.5 9 6.5 7 9 7 0 LWA 19 28 18 24 20 15 0 LLW 40 28.5 31 34 21 28 25.5 CLE 31.5 39 38.5 46 45 35 25.5 P 22 56 30 32 36 28 20 NL 56 44.5 39 60 75 57 53.5 LLO 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 WLO 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 TR 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 LT 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 WT 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CL 35 36 38 28 32 38 29.2 CD 12 14 12.5 10 10 14 15 HD 4.5 3.5 4 2 5 5 6 CUL 17 13.5 15 12 15 18 17 COD 16 12 13 11 14 19 17 CDE 13 10.5 9.5 9 11 13 14 SSN 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 CCL 23 16 17 14 13 16 19 In order to identify the most important factors in separation of the seven sampling zones, breaking down of main categories of 24 variants of leaf and fruit attributes were done. Acorn is one of the main elements in the forests of Lorestan, and grows on different ecologic conditions’ realizing the variance-range of quantities and qualities aspects of leaves and fruits. According to table3, 48.6% of changes were in first category, 21.8% in second, and 13.9% in third. First category consists of HMW, CLE, P, and NL; second one consists of MW, CUL, and CCL; the third one consists of LP, TLL, LLW, LT; The fourth one consists of LWB, CL, CD, and SSN; the fifth LWA, NT, WT, HD, and CDE; and the sixth one consists of LL and COD (table 4). In these table it is shown that some categories has positive coherence while the rest has negative coherence with other attributes of each category. According to table3, 48.6% of changes were in first category, 21.8% in second, and 13.9% in third. After gathering samples in under-study zones, measuring desired attributes in leaf and fruit were done. Table 3: Special amounts & percentage of variance for each category S. No. Special values Variance percentage Congregate variance percentage 1 11.726 48.9 48.9 2 5.233 21.8 70.7 3 3.333 13.9 84.6 4 1.850 7.7 92.3 5 1.054 4.4 96.7 6 0.804 3.3 100.0 Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 154 Table 4: Amounts of special vectors related to variants for each category Variant 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th LP 0.124 -0.167 0.405 0.021 -0.322 -0.144 LL 0.001 0.340 -0.073 0.213 -0.008 0.603 TLL 0.180 0.132 -0.364 -0.187 -0.113 -0.108 MW 0.135 0.311 -0.215 0.244 -0.110 -0.053 HMW 0.255 -0.058 -0.204 -0.145 -0.200 -0.036 LWB 0.232 0.007 -0.236 0.248 0.169 -0.223 LWA 0.158 0.267 -0.094 0.299 -0.354 -0.088 LLW 0.075 0.267 0.314 -0.195 0.233 -0.312 CLE 0.237 0.032 0.168 -0.005 0.145 0.056 P -0.237 -0.032 0.168 -0.005 0.145 0.056 NL -0.237 -0.032 -0.168 0.005 -0.145 -0.056 LLO -0.237 -0.032 -0.168 0.005 -0.145 -0.056 WLO -0.237 -0.032 -0.168 0.005 -0.145 -0.056 TR 0.255 0.026 0.195 0.086 -0.288 -0.098 LT 0.226 0.074 0.323 0.080 0.002 -0.139 WT 0.270 0.133 -0.081 0.058 0.152 0.034 CL -0.201 0.129 0.081 0.436 -0.00 0.289 CD -0.204 0.086 0.131 0.464 -0.0103 -0.100 HD -0.212 0.219 0.153 0.082 0.350 -0.002 CUL -0.135 0.326 0.145 0.218 0.211 -0.168 COD -0.198 0.206 0.216 0.068 0.133 -0.411 CDE -0.168 0.294 0.089 -0.141 -0.308 -0.256 SSN 0.098 0.320 0.145 -0.379 0.107 0.057 CCL -0.013 0.390 0.116 0.073 -0.330 0.200 In order to identify the most important factors in separation of the seven sampling zones, breaking down of main categories of some different variants of leaf and fruit attributes were done. Acorn is one of the main elements in the forests of Lorestan, and grows on different ecologic conditions’ realizing the variance-range of quantities and qualities aspects of leaves and fruits. After gathering samples in under-study zones, measuring desired attributes in leaf and fruit were done. Mean of each attribute in millimeters was identified, and then received measures about leaf attributes in the seven studied zones are shown in figures. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 155 First Component S ec on d C om po n en t 0.30.20.10.0-0.1-0.2-0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 -0.1 -0.2 CCL SSN CDE COD CUL HD CD CL WT LT TR WLO LLO NL P CLE LLW LWA LWB HMW MW TLL LL LP Figure 3: Graph of effective acorn leaf & fruit in the categorization of sampling zones First Component S ec on d C om po n en t 420-2-4-6-8 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 Zesht va Ghalaei Dadabad Zarrin Choga Kakareza Maleh Shabanan Shorab Kahman Figure 4: Graph of sampling zones categorization related to the variants of acorn leaf & fruit In the cluster analysis based on morphological attributes of gathered samples from the seven zones, the most proximity (61.65%) relates to Zarin Chagha and Maleh Shabanan which formed the first cluster (figure 5). After them DadAbad and Kaka Reza has formed the 55.63%. Two zones of Kaka Reza and Shoorab are in the same cluster with 52.46% and 53.94%. Maleh Shabanan and Kahman have formed a bigger cluster with 49.56%. Zasht Ghalai and Kahman have formed the biggest cluster at the bottom of dandrogram because of the least proximity (25.55%). Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 156 Locality S im il ar it y Zesh t v a Ghal aei Zarr in C hoga M aleh Sh aba nan D ad ab ad Kak are za Shora b Kah m an 25.55 50.37 75.18 100.00 Dendrogram with Single Linkage and Euclidean Distance Figure 5: Sampling zones dandrogram based on morphologic attributes of acorn leaf & fruit of the seven zones 4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Results show that there are three types of acorn in the province of Lorestan: Quercus Persica (Persian acorn), Quercus Branti (Broodar), and Quercus Infectoria (Darmazoo). The quercus infectoria can be seen separately on the zone of Zasht & Ghalai; two types of branti and persica can be seen irregularly. On Ghalai zone, due to the rain fall rate and more humidity in comparison to other zones, suitable conditions are available for the growth of Quercus infectoria. Among the reviewed aspects in this research, leaf color, the existence of fluff on leaves, existence of teeth, and the length of grain cover have the greatest effect on the separation of persica and branti from infectoria. Fatahi (2000) reviewed the acorn forests of Zagros, introducing the growth land of persica as mountain ramps and heights above 1670 meters. Sabeti (2003) introduces rush family in Iran as consisting of three types of rush, acorn, and chestnut growth in northern forests. Kafashzadeh et al. (2007) reviewed the morphological aspects of infectoria fruit of Kurdistan province forests, introducing the most variant attribute of the fruit as the length of fruit’s grain and the least variant attribute as the length of grain. Kafashzadeh et al. (2008) introduced the most variant attribute of the leaf as the surface area of it, and the least variant as the number of veins. Lorestan, as a part of Iran’s western lands, is affected by semi-Mediterranean climate; this area is divided into different climate zones regarding norms of annual rain fall rate. Northern and north- eastern parts have cold mountain climate, central and western parts have mild climate, and southern parts have warm climate. Zagros forests, as the greatest jungle area of the country, are considered not only as a high- economic zone in wooden products, but also as a highly important zone in environmental values. It should be mentioned that acorn is one of the main elements in the forests of Lorestan, and grows on different ecologic conditions’ realizing the variance-range of quantities and qualities aspects of leaves and fruits. This research has been done within the seven zones of Lorestan province’s acorn forests. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 5(6)2015: 150-157 157 Quercus Persica (Persian acorn), Quercus Branti (Broodar), and Quercus Infectoria (Darmazoo). The quercus infectoria can be seen separately on the zone of Zasht & Ghalai; two types of branti and persica can be seen irregularly. On Ghalai zone, due to the rain fall rate and more humidity in comparison to other zones, suitable conditions are available for the growth of Quercus infectoria. Among the reviewed aspects in this research, leaf color, the existence of fluff on leaves, existence of teeth, and the length of grain cover have the greatest effect on the separation of persica and branti from infectoria. Two types of Q.Persica and Q.branti are mostly found in altitude between 1400 and 2000 m. Views and opinions expressed in this study are the views and opinions of the authors, Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development shall not be responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content. Refrences Fatahi, M. (1994). Zagros oak forest. Journal of Iran Natural Resource, 52,102-118. Fatahi, M. (2000). Zagros pistichia jungles and its destructive factors. Journal of Iran Natural Resource, 54, 70-84. Jazirehee, M. (2003). Zagros jungles, Tehran University press. Kafashzadeh, S. (2007). Morphological characteristics of Kordestan oak jungles. Journal of Research and Construction, 77, 112-123. Kafashzadeh, S. (2008). Morphological characteristics of Kordestan oak jungles. Journal of Research and Construction, 79, 87-99. Marvi, M., & Mohamad, R. (2003). Silviculture and Tending Forest. Tehran University press. Mosadegh, A. (2004). World jungles’ eco system. Tehran University press. Poorhashemi, M. (2004). 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