Tests were done on the effects of treatments of titanium dioxide spray on corn (Zea mays L.). The study was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of two factors; the first factor was stage of plant growth that spraying was applied (vegetative stage, appearance of male flowers and female flowers); and the second factor was that of different concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Tio2) that consisted of spray with water (control), titanium dioxide or bulk, nano titanium dioxide at concentrations of 0.01% and 0.03%. Results showed that effect of nano Tio2 was significant on chlorophyll content (a and b), total chlorophyll (a + b), chlorophyll a/b, carotenoids and anthocyanins. The maximum amount of pigment was recorded from the treatment of nano Tio2 spray at the reproductive stage (appearance of male and female flowers) in comparison with control. Thus, an application of nanoparticles (nanao Tio2) can facilitate an increase in crop yield, especially corn yield.

In order to investigate the composition of borage (Borago officinalis L.) seed oil, this research was performed under the field conditions at Shahriyar and Garmsar zones, Iran during the 2012 planting year. The oil yield of borage was 31.46% and 33.7% at Shahriyar and Garmsar zone, respectively, and nine and eight fatty acids were identified in the seed oil of borage at Shahriyar and Garmsar, respectively - palmitic, linoleic, stearic and γ-linolenic acids were dominant in the seed oil of borage from both zones. Unsaturated fatty acid content was more than the saturated fatty acids in both zones. The ratio of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid in the borage cultivated at Shahriyar and Garmsar zones was 2.13 and 2.29. The fatty acid profile of Garmsar borage, oleic and oleic/linoleic acid ratio, increased. Locations with different ecological conditions resulted in changes in both seed oil content and fatty acid profile of borage.

This study was done to evaluate the effect of methanol and nano TiO2 foliar application on photosynthetic apparatus, anthocyanin and changes of nitrate reductase in borage (Borago officinalis L.) under deficit irrigation. Tests were done as a split factorial experiment set up as a completely randomized block design with four replications, in the year 2012, at Shahriyar City, Iran. Irrigation conditions were the factors tested in the main plots: deficit irrigation condition (irrigation every 7 days) and irrigation every 14 days. Methanol solutions 0 (control or sprayed with water), 15%, 35% and 45% (v/v) and, nanoTiO2 treatment (0 or control and nano TiO2 at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.03% and 0.05%) were tested in the sub plots. Plant characteristics under evaluation were those of; chlorophyll (Chl) a,b and total chlorophyll, Spad value, net photosynthetic rate, rubisco carboxylase activity, anthocyanin and nitrate reductase enzyme (NR). Also evaluated were the effects of interaction of deficit irrigation and methanol on all measured traits, and results determined the effect as significant with the exception of NR and interactions of deficit irrigation and nano TiO2 on all measured traits. Test results showed that maximum amount of traits at deficit irrigation was achieved by spraying with 45% v/v oncentration of methanol and nano Tio2 at the concentration of 0.05%. But the best treatments under normal irrigation were 15% v/v of methanol and 0.03% of nano Tio2. but at the methanol concentration of 45% and non-application of nano Tio2 under normal irrigation had the least effect. In summary, results of these tests determined that application of methanol and nano Tio2, can promote plant resistance to drought stress (particularly borage plants).