Feasibility study for domestication of Teucrium polium L. based on ecological agriculture

In order to evaluate agroecological criteria for possible domestication under cropping conditions, a primary survey was made in natural habitat of Tandureh national park in North Khorasan. In this case, biological criteria of plants including plant density, height, biomass and crown diameter was measured. Also in 2 separate field trials, agronomic criteria of this species were studied for two years (2006 and 2007) in experimental field of Institute of Plant Sciences of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In the first experiment, treatments were including dates of seed direct planting and 3 density (13, 17 and 25 plant per m2) and the second experiment plant density (13, 17 and 25 plant per m2) and date of transplanting (17 October and 5 May) in randomized complete block design with three replication was evaluated. Transplants were transferred in rows with 20 cm apart and the proper densities were arranged on the rows with 20, 30 and 40 cm between each plant. In another trial in 2007, the effect of different levels of manure (10, 20 and 30 ton per hectare) and irrigation intervals (14, 21 and 28 days) on agronomic criteria of this species was investigated. In the natural habitat, this plant grows in altitude 1000-1100 m, on poor loamy soil with average density of 4 plants per m2, height of 17 cm, crown diameter 15 cm and dry matter yield of 11 g.m-2. Field experiment indicated that direct seeding is not successful and autumn transplanting was superior to spring transplanting and plant performed much better in the second year compared with the first year. Also performance of species in terms of yield, height and crown diameter was better under field condition compared to natural habitat. However essential oil content in the first year was 50 percent lower under field condition compared with nature. Different levels of manure and irrigation intervals did not affect agronomic criteria of Teucrium polium L.