Fennel Populations Grouping and Evaluation from the Agronomic and Morphological Traits under Favorable and Limited Irrigation Conditions

In order to grouping 19 populations fennel from the agronomic and morphological traits, an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications under limited and favorable condition of irrigation at the Agricultural Research Station, University of Tabriz. Combined analysis of variance showed that the effects of different irrigation conditions, population and population × environment interaction was significant for most of the studied traits; That was representing a significant difference between the fennel studied populations and also showed populations different reactions under different of irrigation condition. Also, under limited condition of irrigation, the number of umbel per plant, the number of seed per umbel, 1000-seed weight, grain yield, essential oil yield for all studied populations were significantly reduced. However, all studied populations were associated with a significant increase in essential oil under limited condition of irrigation. Correlation of grain yield with essential oil yield (0/949), the number of umbel per plant (0/696), the number of seed per umbel (0/469), plant height (0/641), tillers(0/617) and biomass(0/891) was significant positively under water deficit stress condition. This indicates the traits had the greatest effect on grain yield under water deficit stress condition. In favorable conditions of irrigation, the studied populations were divided into three groups for all traits. Bonab and Birjand populations were in the best group the evaluated traits including grain and essential oil yields. In terms of water stress, the studied populations were divided into three groups for all traits. The best groups the all evaluated traits included Garineh, German (11486), German (1182), Hamadan and Bonab populations. Grouping populations based on drought tolerance indices showed that Bonab, Birjand, German (11486) and Hamadan populations are superior from the drought tolerance than other evaluated populations.