وحیده ناظری

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 14 populations of five species of Rumex, including R. chalepensis, R. kandavanicus, R. pulcher, R. crispus and R. tuberosus from Ardabil and Khorasan Razavi provinces using morphological traits. The studied traits included leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves per plant, aerial fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, phenol and antioxidants. Studies of morphological and phytochemical traits on farm and greenhouses showed that the highest coefficient variation for morphological traits related to aerial fresh and dry weight and number of leaves per plant, while the lowest coefficient variation related to the leaf length. In addition, the highest coefficient variation related to chlorophyll b and phenol and the lowest related to chlorophyll a. Also, the results of mean comparison of morphological traits under farm and greenhouse conditions showed that there was a significant difference between different species of Rumex and different populations within each species in the farm, however, there was a significant difference between different species in the greenhouse only in leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves per plant, aerial fresh and dry weight, phenol and antioxidants. In general, phenol and antioxidants were higher in R. crispus than in other species, however, R. tuberosus showed lower values ​​in all morphological and phytochemical traits compared to other species.

Cultivation development of adaptable Thymus daenensis Celak to specific environmental conditions through population improvement requires the creation of a genetic pool rich of superior genotypes and exploitation of this diversity to identify genotypes with high combinability. In this research, to study the genetic diversity and combinability of different T. daenensis ecotypes under salinity, a factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors included salinity stress (0 and 90 mM NaCl) and ecotype (12 half-sib families derived from a polycross between 12 T. daenensis ecotypes). Salinity decreased all the measured traits (except for proline and carotenoids content) significantly compared to the control. The ecotypes differed significantly from each other in terms of length and leaf width, length of lateral branches, aerial parts dry weight, essential oil content, and proline content. Essential oil content and leaf width obtained the highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. General heritability of the studied traits varied from 4.61% (leaf length) to 81.07% (leaf width). The highest general heritability was assigned to leaf width, essential oil content, and aerial parts dry weight. Regarding the higher genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, and genetic advance of the traits including essential oil content and aerial parts dry weight, these traits could be considered as the most important criteria for the parents selection in the breeding programs of T. daenensis. The results showed that the ecotypes Malayer2, Zagheh, Arak, and Ilam had high combinability in terms of essential oil content. Considering the sufficient genetic diversity observed between the studied ecotypes along with their adequate combinability, it could be recommended to breed T. daenensis through the strategy of improving the population by producing synthetic cultivars for normal (non-stress) and salinity conditions.

In order to study the effects of water deficit stress and salicylic acid application on morphological and physiological characteristic of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. a factorial experiment based on a complete randomized block design with four water deficit stress levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 30% FC) and three levels of salicylic acid (0, 0.5 and 1 mM) in three replications was performed in greenhouse condition. Water deficit stress decreased plant, leaf and stem dry weight, leaf area, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content, carotenoids content and essential oil yield, while these traits increased by application of SA. Total phenol content was increased by water deficit stress and SA application. The highest level of plant (18.2g), leaf (6.6g), and stem (8g) dry weight were observed in 100% FC with 0.5 mM SA. Essential oil yield was decreased by water deficit stress and the highest level of this character was obtained in 100% FC with 0.5 mM SA application. According to the obtained results, Z. clinopodioides needs to irrigate at field capacity along with  0.5 mM SA in order to reach to the highest growth and chemical yields.

Linum album Ky. Ex Boiss. is a perennial herb from Linaceae family, which have lignans that are anti-cancer compounds. Like other medicinal herbs the seeds of Linum album due to exposure to particular ecological conditions have dormancy, therefore, identification of ecophysiological factors that affecting on dormancy and determining the optimal conditions for seed germination and establishment of plants is essential to produce them. So in order to perform three experiments includes: investigation the effect of 15 different treatments on dormancy breaking (completely randomized design), germination (completely randomized design) and seedling establishment of different populations (randomized complete block design), seeds of these plants were collected in June 2014 from 13 sites. The results of this study showed that the effect of different treatments on germination percentage and other germination indices was significant at 1% level. In the control treatment, no germination occurred. The best results observed in 1000 ppm GA with 88.33 percent germination. The highest percentage of germination and seedling establishment observed in populations A4 (78.08%) and A6 (41.33%). To remove dormancy in Linum album it is proposed that we use combined GA treatment with stratification. Also, based on the indices studied, the use of populations A1 and A6 is recommended for improvement of breeding programs.

Thymus daenensis Celak. belonging to Lamiaceae family, is an endemic medicinal plants of Iran that has been found as a rich source for essential oil and thymol. The evaluation of the morphological traits of different populations of this species is necessary for its domestication. Eight populations of this plant were collected from three provinces of Markazi (Shazand, Khan e miran bala, Khan e miran paien and Arak), Hamedan (Malayer 1, Malayer 2 and Jovzan) and Lorestan (Zaghe) at full flowering period. 31 quantitative and qualitative traits were evaluated. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the populations for most studied traits. The stem cork, calyx color, leaf cork and number of essential oil glands had the highest coefficient of variation among the populations. The maximum length and diameter of inflorescences and leaf length in Zaghe, the highest leaf area in Shazand, the highest number of essential glands and leaf width in Khan e miran bala and the highest number of flowers in inflorescences was observed in Malayer 1 population. Some significant positive and negative correlations were observed between traits. Cluster analysis of populations based on measured traits putted populations in three clusters (Zaghe, Shazand and other populations). In general, the results indicated a high variation among populations, which could be due to habitat conditions or populations genetic. We suggest to repeat such studies to investigate the impact of habitat conditions on morphological traits of this species. This can be helpful for choosing the best population for domestication.

DNA barcoding is a simple method for the identification of any species using a short genetic sequence from a standard genome section. The present study aimed at examining the nuclear and chloroplast diversity as well as the phylogenetic relationships of eight species of saffron including four spring-flowering and five autumn-flowering species from different parts of Iran, using the nuclear barcode and chloroplast genes to specify their evolutionary pathway and to examine their genetic affinity. First, PCR was performed using the primers designed based on the chloroplast barcodes of matK, trnL, and rbcL, and nuclear barcode of ITS. Then, the PCR products were purified and sequenced. The results of the phylogenetic tree indicated that the examined saffron species of Iran were separated from each other based on the sequences of ITS, matK, and trnL barcodes. In the rbcL barcode, the relationships of a number of species remained unresolved, and this genetic region could not appropriately discriminate the species. The ITS barcode was introduced as the best barcode due to its discriminatory power, a high number of SNPs, and its comprehensiveness in most species. Moreover, the matK and trnL barcodes were identified as complementary barcodes. The use of the four genetic regions in comparison with their individual use has caused these species to be well separated. Overall, the obtained phylogram showed that the cultivated species were more similar to C. pallasii subsp. haussknechtii species.

Thymus daenensis Celak subsp. daenensis, an endemic medicinal plant in Iran, belongs to Lamiaceae family that has a high essential oil content and high Thymol in essential oil. Evaluations of different ecotypes of this species in order to identify the paramount ecotype with the highest essential oil percentage and Thymol content and also correlations of edaphic and climate conditions with essential oil quantity and quality in order to identify the best conditions for domestication of this species were the aims of this study. In this study, essential oils of plants referred to eight natural habitat (Malayer 1, Malayer 2, Jovzan, Arak, Khane miran e bala, Khane miran e paien, Shazand and Zaghe) of this species extracted and measured (v/w%) and then compositions of essential oils were determined by GG and GC/MS instruments. Soil and climatic characteristics were identified and their correlations to essential oil content and compositions were calculated. Results showed that the ecotypes had significant difference in essential oil percentage. The highest and the lowest essential oil percentage were obtained in Arak (5%) and Malayer 2 (2.5%) ecotypes, respectively. Thymol was dominant component of essential oils of all ecotypes. The highest (78.88%) and the lowest (67.16%) amounts of Thymol were observed in ecotypes of Jovzan and Malayer 1, respectively. Positive correlations between the essential oil percentage with mean daily temperature, clay, silt and soil lime were found. These correlations explained that edaphic and climatic conditions had a significant effect on the quantity and quality of essential oil and could help us to identify the second culture conditions for domestication of this plant.

In the domestication process of medicinal plants, evaluation of qualitative and quantitative changes of active ingredients is necessary after transfer from natural habitat to field conditions. Thymus daenensis Celak is an endemic vulnerable medicinal plants of Iran, which become especially important due to high essential oil content. In this study, essential oil quantity and quality of three ecotypes from Hamedan, Markazi and Lorestan provinces were evaluated under natural habitat and field conditions. Aerial parts of plants in natural habitat and field were harvested in full bloom stage and their essential oils were obtained by water distillation method using Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Results indicated that essential oil content of the ecotypes was significantly different in natural habitat, but this difference was not significant in field. Essential oil of Hamedan province ecotype in field was more than natural habitat, but in two others ecotypes, essential oil content in natural habitat was greater than field conditions. Essential oil components in all ecotypes were almost same in both natural habitat and field, but there were differences in dominant components and their amount in natural habitat and field conditions. Finally, the highest content of essential oil (5 %) and thymol (75.45 %) were observed in Markazi and Lorestan ecotypes under natural habitat, respectively. As the results indicated, essential oil content and thymol of Thymus daenensis Celak was strongly influenced by habitat conditions and therefore study and determine the most appropriate secondary culture medium is necessary for domestication of this plant

In order to study the effect of water deficit stress on yield, essential oil and some of physiological traits in different ecotypes of Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis, an experiment was performed as split plot design based on RCBD with three replicates, in Karaj (2013). In this experiment, eight ecotypes of this plant were studied under three water deficit treatments including normal irrigation, stop irrigation at the start of flowering and stop irrigation at the vegetative stage. Result indicated that ecotypes under the different level of irrigation showed different responses for essential oil percentage, dry matter yield, chlorophyll, carotenes, proline and activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase enzymes. Close correlation was not observed between essential oil percentage and dry matter yield with chlorophyll, carotene, proline, and enzymes activity. The highest dry matter yield (17.27 gr per plant) was obtained in Malayer Bala ecotype under normal irrigation and the highest essential oil percentage (6.2 %) was obtained in ecotype of Malayer2 under stop irrigation at the vegetative stage. The highest essential oil yield as the most economical important was found in ecotype of Arak under the both stress treatments.

Evaluation of diversity among different populations of wild species is one of the first and most important steps in domestication and breeding process. Thymus daenensis Celak. is an endemic medicinal plants of Iran with high essential oil percentage and thymol content and therefore, in order to domestication of this plant species, evaluation of different populations is necessary. In this study were used 13 ISSR primers for evaluation of within and among diversity of eight populations of this plant species (Malayer 1, Malayer 2, Arak, Jowzan, Khane e Miran Bala, Khane e Miran Paien, Zaghe and Shazand) that total of 293 bands were generated by these primers. The calculated PIC for primers varied from 0.08 to 0.15. Genetic diversity within populations was higher than between populations. 98% of variance belonged to within populations and only 2% of variance belonged to among the populations. The genetic distance of the populations had no correspondence with geographical distance. The populations of Jowzan and Shazand had the highest and the lowest diversity based on PIC index, respectively. The highest genetic distance based on Nei's index was observed between Shazand and Khane e Miran Paien populations and the highest genetic similarity was observed between Malayer 1 to Jowzan and Khane e Miran Bala populations that could be importance in domestication and breeding of this plant species.

Due to decreasing of suitable land for agriculture and increasing of the saline lands and also the importance of Leonurus Cardiaca, Identification of tolerant medicinal plants to salinity is most important. The experiment was run as factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Four salinity levels were applied by irrigation with solutions containing NaCl that made EC of 0 (control), 4, 8 and 12 ds/m treated on four ecotypes of Taleghan, Khansar, Sarab and Kerman to measure dry weight of shoot and root, shoot length, leaf area, root length, chlorophyll, carotenoids, prolin, total phenol and elements. Results showed that effect of population and their salinity and interactioneffects were significant in most of the measured attributes. Dry weight of shoot and leaf area decreased with increasing salinity level. Kerman ecotype had the highest amount of root dry weight than other ecotypes in all treatments, and had a highest amount of shoot dry weight (33.43 g) as well. Amount of sodium increased with increasing salinity levels, while the amount of potassium, and Calcium decreased. In all treatments, Taleghan and Kerman ecotypes had the highest amount of potassium in shoot. The highest level of shoot calcium (7.75 mg/g-1 dw) was in Kerman ecotype. Kerman ecotype was superior in most of traits.

Linum album Ky. ex Boiss, belonging to the Flax family, is one of the endemic plants in Iran. To investigate the genetic diversity of this plant with using of morphological traits and fatty acid profile, 11 populations of this plant were selected from Hamadan province. In spring and summer of 2014, five whole-plant samples were selected randomly from each population at flowering and seed ripening stage. Then, quantitative (33 traits) and qualitative measurements (9 traits) were done with five replications for each trait. Data were analyzed by SAS.v9.2 software. Means were compared by Duncan's multiple range test (at the 5% level), and the relationship between fatty acids and climate characteristics were measured using canonical correlation. According to the results, this species grows in Hamadan Province at an altitude of 1551 to 2176 meters above sea level. Populations showed significant differences in all traits at the 5% level except six of them, including length, width, and length to width ratio of stem leaves as well as length to width ratio of bracts. The results showed that palmitic acid (5.5-6.5%), stearic acid (0.5-5.1%), oleic acid (21.9-28.1), linoleic acid (15.4-66.8%) and linolenic (2.0-45.7%) acid were the main components of the fatty acid in seeds of flax and Linum album, and a large difference was found for the percentage of these compounds between the two species and in different populations of Linum album. Canonical correlation of geographical and ecological characteristics with the fatty acids of seeds showed that the amount of linolenic acid in the seed oil is increased with the increase in available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, EC, annual precipitation, and mean annual temperature. The yield of Linum album washigher in areas with an altitude of 1700 m, average annual temperature of 13°C, annual rainfall of 340 mm and southern slopes. Although introducing a population for cultivation and domestication of Linum album needs more researches, our results showed that populations A1, A4, A7 and A10 were potentially more suiteable.

In order to study water deficit tolerance in Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis ecotypes, seeds of eight ecotypes were collected from different locations. Seedling are produced in greenhouse, and then transferred to field as an experiment of split plot design based on RCBD with three replicates. Three irrigation treatments (normal irrigation, prevention of irrigation at the start of flowering and at the vegetative stages) were considered as main plots. Sub plots were formed by the ecotypes. Plants were harvested at the full bloom stage and measured for dry matter, essential oil percentage and tolerance indices. Generally, results showed that sever stress led to reduction of dry matter yield. The ecotypes under different level of irrigation showed different responses for essential oil content. High correlation observed between dry matter yields and tolerance indices. Based on the results, GMP, STI, MP and HAM were the best indices for selecting the most tolerant and the best ecotypes. According to these indexes, the ecotypes of arak, khan- e- miran bala and khan- e -miran paien were appropriate options for future studies. Totally, this plant showed high tolerance to water deficit stress and may be a good choice for culturing in water deficit conditions.

This research is based on the floristic study of Raskuh area of Baft Township in Kerman province that the wild vascular plants were collected and identified. This area with about 5500 hectares is located in 20 km of northeast of Baft town and 170 km southwest of the center of the Kerman province. Its minimum altitude is 2400 m and maximum 2700 m above the sea level. The annual average rainfall is 280 mm and the vacillation average of temperature is between -5 and 38 oC. This area is mountainous and a part of the Irano-Turanian region. The physiognomy of vegetation is chiefly as steppe (Astragalus spp. and Artemisia sieberi) but some parts are scrublands or woodlands (Acer monspessulanum, Amygdalus spp., Pistacia atlantica, …). Based on our study, 247 plant species of 51 families and 176 genera were identified which of them one family of Gymnospermes with one species, 43 families with 147 genera and 211 species of dicots Angiospermes, 7 families with 28 genera and 35 species of monocots Angiospermes were recognized. The family Asteraceae with 36 species and the genus Astragalus with 16 species as largest family and genus were identified in the region. Most of the species had Irano-Turanian nature from viewpoint of the phytogeographical aspects. Life forms were including 38.9% therophytes, 26.3% hemicryptophytes, 16.6% Chamaephytes, 9.7% geophytes, 7.3% phanerophytes and 1.2% hydrophytes.

The potential of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance the production of essential oil and plant growth parameter was investigated in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum). The experiment was done in randomized complete block design with four treatments and four replications. Sweet basil is one of the most important plants in lamiaceae that is used as a spice and a culinary and medicinal herb. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can enhance the plant growth and development through the increase in nutrient uptake, plant hormones, reduce environment stress and increase resistant to pathogens. In this experiment, three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the control (no mycorrhiza) were tested on sweet basil plant. The plant was planted in pots and grew in greenhouse, and after 90 days that plant go to the flowering stage that is the peak of essential oil content, the plants were harvested and the growth parameter and essential oil content were measured. Results showed that the growth parameter like fresh and dry weight of plant, plant height, number of leaves and branches, root fresh and dry weight and essential oil content were higher than control in all mycorrhizal treatment, and among them the Glomus intraradices was the most effective treatment to increase the growth parameter, and oil content of Ocimum basilicum plant and the G.mosseae had the least effect. These results demonstrate that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi concomitantly increase essential oil production and biomass in an herbaceous species rich in commercially valued essential oils. Therefore, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi potentially represent an alternative way of promoting growth of this important medicinal herb, as natural ways of growing such crops are currently highly sought after in the herbal industry.

In this study, two wild Iranian Crocus species (Crocus speciosus and Crocus cancellathus) were examined using 16 morphological characters and 13 ISSR primers on 250 and 25 plant samples, respectively. The highest and lowest coefficient of variations were belonged to the thickness of the petals (71.25%) and the leaf length (15.08%), respectively. Cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics divided plant samples into three groups. Thirteen ISSR primers produced high degree of polymorphism (94.46%). Genetic similarities among the samples ranged from 0.11 to 0.75 for Khanemiran–Arak with HassanAbad-shazand (C. cancellathus) and for Ravansar with-Kangavar (C. speciosus), respectively. Results showed that the plant samples belonging to two studied species, had high genetic diversity and ISSR analysis was suitable technique for evaluation of genetic diversity of Crocus species.

Stachys lavandulifoliaVahl. is one of the 34 species of the genus Stachys, growing naturally in Iran. In this study, the natural habitats of Stachys lavavandulifolia were identified in different regions of Alborz, Kurdistan, West Azarbaijan and East Azarbaijan. Ten complete plants were collected from eight localities in order to study and evaluate morphological traits. Flowering stems were used to investigate essential oil quantitatively. Data of locations and vegetative and reproductive characters of each population were recorded and the amount of essential oil of each location was measured. Results were analyzed using cluster analysis method with SPSS and SAS softwares and the correlation between evaluated traits and essential oil productivity was determined.The traits evaluated in the populations were classified in two distinct groups by cluster analysis. Populations collected from Alborz (Gachsar), Kurdistan (Saqez) and West Azarbaijan (Manbar, Baba nazar, Chahar tagh and Damerchi) were classified in same group and populations from East Azarbaijan (Azarshahr and Ajabshiri) were classified in a separate group. Differences between these two groups may be due to the different climates in the habitats and adaptation of this species to different environmental factors. As a result, Azarshar population, due to having better vegetative and reproductive traits and high essential oil yield as compared to other populations could be taken into consideration for breeding programs or for cultivation and production.

In this study, 12 populations of Salvia leriifolia Benth. were collected to investigate the effects of environmental factors on the quantity and quality of essential oil. Oil was extracted using hydrodistillation based on the British Pharmacopoeia method. Chemical compositions of essential oils were detected using the GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. The influence of environmental factors on essential oil and chemical composition was analyzed using canonical correlation by SAS v. 9.1. Results showed that the average yield of essential oil were between 0.69-1.5% (v/w) for Tabas Sabzevar and Bajestan, respectively. Twenty-two compounds were identified, among which the concentration of juniper camphor (12.0-39.9%), 1,8-cineole (3.6-21%), β-pinene (8.7-18.1%) and α-pinene (4.4-10%) was high. Canonical correlation analysis among eight morphological traits and nine chemical properties revealed that the first six canonical variables had a significant canonical correlation. Canonical correlation coefficients of the first variable showed that high levels of α-pinene and β-pinene and low percentage of δ-cadinole had a direct and positive relationship with low amounts of soil calcium and potassium. In other words, the cultivation of S. leriifolia in soils rich in calcium and potassium increases δ-cadinole and α-pinene content and decreases β-pinene content in the essential oil.

GenusSalvia، belonging to the Labiatae family، has valuable active ingredients including essential oils، flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. Pharmacological researches on Salvia genus have confirmed medicinal properties of the plant including antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Total flavonoids، rosmarinic acid and the content and chemical compounds of essential oil of three populations of Salvia reuterana Boiss.، collected from three regions of Iran (Deli chai، Kaswa and Shahmirzad)، as well as Salvia palaestina Benth.، collected from Rodbarak، were evaluated in present study. Fifty-six compounds of S. reuterana and S. palaestina were identified by GC-MS. The most important chemical compositions for S. reuterana were α-gurjunen، β-elemene، germacern-D، N-hexyl acetate and spatholenol and for S. palaestina were caryophyllen، dihydro carveol، germacern-D، linalool and spatholenol. Diethyl ether extract of leaves was used for quantification and identification of flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. The crushed leaves of the plant were dissolved in diethyl ether solvent and then were injected into the LC-DAD-ESI-MS system. Total flavonoids amount of S. reuterana، collected from Kaswa، Deli chai and Shahmirzad were calculated to be 3252. 76، 3697. 19 and 5132. 92 µg/ g، respectively. Also the amount of rosmarinic acid in plants، collected from Kaswa، Deli chai and Shahmirzad was 122، 177. 11 and 98. 46 µg/ g، respectively. S. palaestina Rodbarak showed 3808 and 19. 72 µg/g of total flavonoids and rosmarinic acid، respectively.

Lilium flowers vase life are associated by different factors which influence life quality of plant. Sugars are generally used to extend the vase life of the most cut flowers. Such beneficial effects have been associated with an improvement of water relations and an increase in available energy for respiration by floral tissues. In order to determine the importance of carbohydrate distribution in regulation of development and senescence، the role of sucrose was characterized based on completely randomized design in lilium LA hybrid «Ceb Dazzle» flowers. Postharvest flower longevity after anthesis of detached buds was well correlated with total carbohydrate content of the tepals at harvest time. Longevity of attached flowers remained constant within the inflorescence، likely due to postharvest redistribution of tepal carbohydrate. By increasing the buds growth، starch amount was increased. Buds with 80 mm length had the most amount of starch. In development time of buds، changes trend in sucrose، glucose، and fructose level was the same، approximately. The nearly identical amounts of fructose and glucose within lily tepals suggest that sucrose is probably converted by invertase، rapidly. It seems that reduced sugars supply a large proportion of the carbohydrate pool in the tepals. The flower buds are active metabolic centers، since the translocation sugar is probably sucrose. However، sugar application in the vase solution induced more development of leaf yellowing when compared to those in a sugarless solution and higher concentrations of sucrose caused leaf blackening.

In this study، the genetic diversity of 25 Iranian saffron genotypes from three species (Crocus speciosus، Crocus cancellatus and Crocus sativus) has been evaluated using 16 morphological traits and RAPD marker. C. sativus was different with speciosus in the leaf number per plant، tepal length، flower weight، inflorescence stem height and the stigma length، but had no significant difference with cancellatus species. Considering traits such as the number of outer cover and the corm dry weight، domestic saffron species was different with cancellatus and similar to speciosus. 19 primers have been investigated in PCR reactions. A total number of 276 bands have been amplified from all the samples، out of which there were 261 polymorphic bands and the cophenetic coefficient was about r = 0. 96. ‍Cluster analysis was done on the basis of polymorphic bands and using Jaccard''s similarity coefficient and by UPGMA method and the samples were divided into four groups at similarity of 0. 36. In this method، the same as morphological traits، C. specious were separated from the other two species. Domestic saffron was well separated from cancellatus and speciosus at similarity of 0. 28.

Salvia reuterana Boiss of the Labiatae family is naturally distributed in many parts of Iran. Recent pharmacological studies have confirmed some medicinal properties of S. reuterana including antibacterial, carminative and anti-oxidant effects. In order to domestication of this valuable plant, morphological diversity were studied among seven S. reuterana population (Absard, Delichai, Shahmirzad, Chashm, Anjileh, Atashgah and Kasva) and S. palaestina population (Roodbarak) by using of 29 morphological treats and essential oil content. Treats including length of flowering stem, leaf length and width, collar diameter, length of calyx teeth, calyx diameter and sub stems length have shown highest genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation which demonstrate high diversity of mentioned treats among population. Some treats correlated with each other including plant height with flowering stem length and calyx length and diameter, essential oil content with plant height and flowering stem length. Based on all studied treats cluster analyses, in 12 unit distance were classed into four major groups. In order to essential oil extraction plant materials were subjected into Clevenger apparatus for 4 hours. Essential oil percentage was varying among evaluated population between 0.2-0.36 (v∕w). Plants grown in Chashm habitat have shown fallowing desirable treats; maximum plant height, highest leave length and width, maximum sub stem length and highest essential oil quantity in compare with other population.

Storage conditions influence quality of gladious corms thereby affecting quality of flowers. In the present study, the effects of pre-storage curing and different temperature conditions on morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics of corms and flowers of two cultivars were studied. Application of pre-storage curing plus one or two month cold treatment at 5°C accelerated morphological, anatomical and physiological changes in corms. These corms had less starch and more soluble sugars at the end of storage period comparing to the corms stored at the other conditions. These changes in corms with two months cold treatment at 5°C were significant. The corms stored during whole storage period at 13 and 5°C showed high level of starch and low level of soluble sugars. The observations of both cultivars followed the same trend.

Leonurus cardiaca is a medicinal plant of the family Lamiaceae, due to the effects of blood dilutioning, the species is used for centuries. The species has a high diversity and widely distributed in Iran, so that from 4 sub species in the world, 3 sub-species are grown in Iran. In this study AFLP markers were used to investigate genetic diversity among 47 samples of 6 motherwort populations and the kinship ties between them. The results showed that 6 selected AFLP primer combinations (MseI /EcoRI) amplified 608 scorable DNA bands, of which 355 were polymorphic (polymorphic 58%). The average genetic similarity of samples was estimated based on the Nei coefficient, 0.26 (0.21-0.30). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation was mainly within populations (57%), but variance among the populations was only 43%. A UPGMA dendrogram based on genetic distance also revealed five major branches in accordance to geographical regions. Maximum and minimum values of genetic similarity of the populations were recorded between “Taleghan 6” and “Taleghan 7” (0.7) and “Dargaz 1” and “Taleghan 7” (0.06) respectively. Data showed a completely different banding pattern of subspecies L. Cardiaca subsp Turkestanicus. of Dargaz region. Coefficient of genetic differentiation among the populations (Gst) and gene flow (Nm), average number of emigration exchanged per generation estimated among the populations, were estimated 0.37 and 0.85, respectively.

Evaluation of morphological variations in 70 genotypes of seven accessions of Thymus caramanicus Jalas.Growing in central Iran was carried out, for determining valuable characters for future breeding programs and medicinal purposes. In this study 30 quantitative and qualitative characters were evaluated. The results revealed great variabilities of important traits among populations. Results of simple correlation analysis showed the existence of significant, positive and negative correlations among some important characters. Factor analysis was also used for defining of the determinant factors and the characters constituted in each factor. Factor analysis showed that flowering stem length, second internode length, leaf length, leaf width, number of flowers per inflorescence, inflorescence length, number of bracts, calyx length and corolla length constituted the main factors. Principal component analysis explained over 84 percent of the variation related to main effective characters. Populations of T. caramanicus separated into two groups by cluster analysis using Ward method. Populations which were collected from Kerman and Esfahan provinces placed in a same group and populations from Semnan province were placed in an independent group. The most similar populations were Rabor and Kashan. The Rabor population characterized by having valuable traits such as largest flowering stem, longest second internode and largest leaf, can be introduced for breeding and medicinal purposes.