In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. graduate of Biotechnology, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ramin University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mollasani, Iran

2 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ramin University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mollasani Iran

3 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ramin University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mollasani, Iran

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate various ecotypes of Silybum marianum L., collected from different parts of Iran, as well as the Budakalasz variety and two ecotypes from England. The experiment was performed in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the agricultural farm of the Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan. The evaluated traits included yield, yield components, and morphological and phenological traits. Analysis of variance showed statistically significant difference among the traits except phenological traits. Molasani 2 and Shush 2 with 4.2 and 1.7 tons/hectare had the highest and lowest yield, respectively. In addition, the yield of Budakalasz variety was estimated to be 2.2 tons/hectare. The smallest canopy among the study ecotypes belonged to Shush 2. Among the phenological traits studied, only the flowering period was statistically different (α<0.05) among the ecotypes. The number of capitula per plant, number of seeds per main capitula and 1000-seed weight according to stepwise regression and path analysis were the most effective traits on yield. Days to stem elongation indirectly influenced the yield via its effects on the number of capitula per plant and the seed number of main capitula. A total of 97 percent of yield variance was explained by four variables entered in the regression model. The resulted dendrogram based on squared Euclidean distance and Ward’s algorithm divided ecotypes into three main clusters. This grouping did not perfectly match with the geographical distribution pattern. The results indicated that there was high diversity in the morphological traits of milk thistle ecotypes, so that the ecotypes could be applied in breeding programs.

Keywords

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