Assessing Diversity of Landraces of Dracocephalum moldavica from Northwest of Iran Using Agro-morphological and Phytochemical Traits

Dracocephalum moldavica L. (Moldavian Balm) is a medicinal and aromatic plant which is consumed as an edible vegetable in Northwest of Iran. The present study was carried out to assess the diversity among 7 landraces (Cultivated populations) of D. moldavica, originated from east and west Azerbaijan provinces (Northwest Iran), based on 11 agromorphologic traits and phytochemical characteristics of essential oil. Populations including Naghadeh, Keshtiban, Topragh-Ghalae, Baghchajogh, Hokm-Abad, Jahangir and Shiraz-Valley were evaluated. Seeds of seven populations were cultivated in a field condition of Hamedan. The results from the assessment of the agro-morphological traits showed significant differences among populations in ten traits studied. The essential oil contents, obtained from the plants, ranged from 0.03% to 0.12% based on leaf dry weight (w/w%). The highest essential oil percentage (0.12%) was determined for Hokm-Abad. In all, 27 compounds were identified in essential oils Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in 7 populations. Geranyl acetate (19.85%-45.58%) was found to be the dominant component for all essential oils extracted from populations. Two grouping pattern resulted from two clustering analysis based on 11 agromorphologic traits and the compositions of essential oil. They divided the populations into two distinct groups but they did not match. The results of correlation analysis, based on agromorphologic traits and major compounds of essential oils, showed that the stem diameter, as the only morphological trait, was positively correlated with essential oil content. The findings of this research provide information that could be useful for better exploration and breeding programs of D. moldavica.