Genetic architecture of two populations of Nepeta racemosa in Iran

In order to study existing genetic variation within populations and within the Nepeta racemosa species the research was performed on two populations of the species to investigate genetic architecture of existing variation of the two populations. In this regard, at full maturity, seed was collected based on single plants from two habitats of the species, during 2018, to be investigated as half-sib families. Field experiment was performed based on a three times replicated randomized complete block design, in which eight morphologic characters were recorded on 277 single plants from 20 half-sib families of the two populations. Genetic variance components were estimated using biometrical variance components of the two populations, based on which heritability of the characters were also estimated. Results of analysis of variance showed that family effect component was highly significant for majority of the studied traits on the two populations. Based on the genetic variance components, the family component of variance was more effective than progeny component for the first population. Almost the same situation with minor differences was observed on the second population. In spite of small size of the studied populations, high heritability values of several traits indicated their suitable genetic potential. Although significant genetic variation and high heritability values were observed on most of the studied traits, Constituting artificial gene pools, using the families with high performances could be a dual purposes strategy, in order to conserve the valuable gene pool as well as utilizing their potentials in breeding programs.