Investigation of quantitative and qualitative traits of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) in several habitats of East and West Azerbaijan provinces

To determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of six dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) populations at six habitats, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with three replications (at intervals of 500 to 1000 m) in 2013. Each dragonhead population belongs to a habitat including Salmas, Urmia, Khoy, Maragheh, Piranshahr and Tabriz. The szk-1cultivar, as a control treatment, was planted in the Research Field of Payam Noor University (PNU) in Marand. In each habitat, flowering branches of dragonhead were collected in full flowering stage. In this study, some traits such as plant height, number of branches, number of flowering branches, essential oil content, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in shoot as well as chlorophyll contents (a, b and total), carotenoids, flavonoids and anthocyanins were measured. According to the obtained results, the effect of habitat was significant on plant height, number of branches, essential oil, the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll and flavonoids at 5% level as well as on number of flowering branches and anthocyanin amount at 1% level. Results showed that the highest plant height and nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll, carotenoids and essential oil contents were obtained from Salmas population. The Szk-1 cultivar produced the highest number of lateral and flowering branches and total flavonoids in Marand. In general, Salmas population had the best growth characteristics and qualitative traits. Therefore, this population could be used to produce varieties with desirable agronomic properties.