Study of morphologic diversity of 24 Thymus ecotypes

Thyme is an herb of the Lamiaceae family. The plant is very important in the world of medicinal properties. In order to study morphologic variation among a number of ecotypes of thyme, an experiment was performed based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and 24 treatments at Research Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Zanjan. Plant height, length, width, canopy, yield, branch length, leaf length, leaf width, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days between first flowering and 50% flowering dates were recorded. Correlation between the studied agronomic traits was significant. Stepwise regression for plants yield showed that plant length and number of days between first flowering and 50% flowering had a positive effect on yield and plant height. Seed weight had a negative impact on yield. Cluster analysis based on the studied agronomic traits divided the ecotypes into three major clusters. Ecotypes number 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17, 20, and 24 located in cluster number 1. Ecotypes number 8, 14, 18 located in cluster number 2 and the rest of the ecotypes were classified in cluster 3.