The effects of planting date and seed priming on yield and physiological traits of two cumin ecotypes

In order to study of the effects of planting date and seed priming on yield and physiological traits of two cumin ecotype, an experiment was conducted as factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the crop year 2014-15 in the field research of medicinal plants, Shahed University. The factors were priming factor at two levels without priming (control) and osmo priming (KCL 4 percent) and date planting factor at three levels 25 February, 10 March and 25 March and Ecotype factor at two levels Neishabour and Sabzevar. The results showed that the interaction between priming and sowing date and ecotype on seed number per plant, grain yield and biological yield significant in statistical level of five percent, while the number of lateral branches and umber number per plant, were significant in statistical level of one percent. There was a reduction on grain yield and biological yield due to delay in planting date from 10 Mar. to 25 Mar. The use of osmo-priming led to a significant increase on percentage and yeild of essence in Sabzevar ecotype. The chemical components of essential oils with delay in sowing date showed a significant decrease.Generally, cultivation of Sabzevar ecotype on 25 February was the most desirable quality and quantity.