Evaluation of morphological traits, shoot yield and essential oil production populations of five species of Anthemis

In order to evaluation of morphological and phenological traits in 68 accessions of five chamomile species including: Anthemis altissima L., A. haussknechtii Boiss. & Reut., A. pseudocotula Boiss., A. tinctoria L. and A. triumfettii (L.) All., an experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in the Alborz research station in Karaj, during 2011-2012. Data were collected for the length and width of canopy, plant height, number of flowers, shoot fresh and dry weight, growth degree-days (GDD), essential oil percentage, and essential oil yield. The average values of growth traits and shoot yield recorded for A. pseudocotula were higher as compared with other species. In addition, this species was an earlier growing species due to the lower values of growth degree-days (GDD) in flowering and maturity stages. The essential oil yield of A. altissima (33 g per plant) and) A. triumfettii (59 g per plant) was more than that recorded for the three other species. The shoot yield of Anthemis tinctoria in Ardebil and Khoy1 populations was higher as compared with other populations. The shoot yield of A. triumfettii in Semnan1 and Semnan 2 populations and the essential oil yield of A. triumfettii in Semnan 2 and Shahrood populations were higher than those recorded for other populations. The Loshan and Salmas populations were earlier growing species. The highest shoot yield and essential oil yield were recorded for A.haussknechtii in the Golastan population. For A. pseudocotula, the highest shoot yield, and essential oil yield were obtained in the Golastan 2 population, and the Golastan1, Zanjan1, and Zanjan2 populations were early growing species. There were no significant differences among the populations of A. altissima. In all species, a direct relationship was found between shoot and essential oil yield and early growth, so that the early growing populations had higher shoot and essential oil yield and this feature could be used in the production of drought-resistant varieties under rainfed conditions.