1- Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center
2- Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization
2- Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
3- Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization
Abstract: (7 Views)
Introduction and Objective
Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is one of the valuable plant genetic resources in Iran, possessing high genetic diversity. This diversity among local landraces of black cumin can serve as a valuable source for selecting superior populations in breeding programs aimed at improving quantitative and qualitative traits such as seed and oil yield. The wide geographical distribution of this plant across various regions of Iran—including Golestan, Isfahan, Yazd, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Fars, Hamedan, Khuzestan, Khorasan, Baluchistan, Tehran, and Arak—reflects its long history of domestication and adaptation to diverse environments. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the genetic samples of black cumin conserved in the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran to identify desirable genotypes based on agronomic traits and seed yield.Materials and Methods
To evaluate the genetic samples of black cumin conserved in the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran (36 accessions obtained from the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj), an experiment was conducted during the 2021–2022 cropping season at the Gorgan Agricultural Research Station, Golestan Province, Iran. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. After data collection, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed according to the experimental design to determine the significance of genotype effects on the studied traits. Statistical analyses were carried out using SAS 9.1, and mean comparisons with the control population (TN-82-747) were performed using the LSD test at the 0.05 probability level. Graphical analysis of genotype × trait relationships was conducted using GGE-biplot software to better understand the interrelationships among traits and genotypes.Results
The results revealed considerable genetic variation among the studied samples for traits including days to 50% flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, number of seeds per capsule, thousand-seed weight, biological yield, and harvest index. Seed yield ranged from 1,875 kg ha⁻¹ (TN-82-748) to 1,979 kg ha⁻¹ (TN-59-48). Genotypes G2, G3, G6, G7, G8, G9, G12, G14, G16, G17, G18, G19, G20, G21, G22, G24, G25, G26, G27, G30, and G35 showed higher values for days to maturity, days to 50% flowering, biological yield, and plant height, indicating lower desirability. In contrast, genotypes G4, G10, G11, G13, G15, G28, G32, G33, G34, and G36 were more desirable due to earliness and higher seed yield.Correlation analysis indicated that days to maturity, days to 50% flowering, plant height, and biological yield were positively correlated. The number of seeds per capsule, thousand-seed weight, and harvest index exhibited positive correlations with seed yield. However, days to maturity was negatively correlated with both harvest index and seed yield. In other words, late-maturing genotypes tended to produce more biomass and were more susceptible to lodging at the end of the growing season, which reduced both seed yield and harvest index.
Conclusion
Genotypes G4, G10, G11, G13, G15, G28, G32, G33, G34, and G36 were identified as more desirable due to their earliness and higher seed yield. Among them, G36 and G32 demonstrated the greatest superiority in terms of seed yield and harvest index and can be considered promising genotypes for further evaluation in subsequent experiments.
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