Feasibility study on some native Iranian Viola spp. domestication

This study was aimed at comparing Viola spp. populations collected from north and northwest of Iran to investigate the adaptability and feasibility of their domestication under climatic conditions of Gorgan. The whole plant samples together with their rhizomes were collected from nine habitats in Golestan, Mazandaran, Gilan, East Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah provinces during the growing season. After botanical approval and receiving herbarium code, the rhizomes were cultivated under the same soil and climate with three replications. Their yield components and physiological, morphological, and phytochemical traits were measured after one crop year at flowering stage. The results showed that these populations were from V. alba Besser, V. odorata L., V. sieheana W.Becker, and V. ignobilis Rups. species. All populations produced flowers and seeds after one crop year. The populations differed significantly (P<0.01). V. ignobilis from Kermanshah had the highest amount of root and aerial parts fresh weight, aerial parts dry weight, and leaf area. The highest amount of root and aerial parts length belonged to V. sieheana from Alangdare. V. alba from Ziarat had the highest amount of total phenols (45.74 mg gallic acid per gram of dry extract) and total flavonoids (20.24 mg quercetin per gram of dry extract). The highest amount of chlorophylls a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins was observed in V. odorata from Bandargaz. The highest antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS methods was found in V. alba from Afratakhte and the highest one by FRAP was observed in V. odorata from Qarnabad. The highest amount of total antioxidant was measured in V. alba and V. oderata populations from Ziarat region. Overall, the results proved the considerable traits diversity in Viola spp. populations. This diversity could be due to the high genetic potential among different populations, differences in environmental conditions, or the interaction of population and environment.