Volume 32, Issue 4 , November 2016
M.A. Zare Chahouki; M. Abasi
Abstract
The purpose of this study was habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis. This model was implemented in the Biomapper software. The information layers included species presence map, soil map (gravel percentage, pH, electrical conductivity, ...
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The purpose of this study was habitat suitability modeling for Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. using ecological-niche factor analysis. This model was implemented in the Biomapper software. The information layers included species presence map, soil map (gravel percentage, pH, electrical conductivity, lime, organic matter, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, soil depth, sand, clay and silt percent), and the topography map (slope, aspect and elevation). The accuracy of the model was obtained 89% using Boyce index, indicating the high accuracy of the model. The Kappa coefficient obtained from matching the prediction map with the ground truth map was calculated to be 0.73, which is at a good level. The results showed that T. kotschyanus preferred soils with a pH of 7.5-8, an electrical conductivity of 0.20-0.25 dS/m and less than 21.5 percent of lime. The optimal habitat of this species is located at an altitude of over 2000 meters above sea level and in the northern and eastern slopes. Furthermore, the results of this study showed that T. kotschyanus is a specialized species in the study area with a relatively narrow ecological niche, tending to live in its own special habitat conditions.
F. Shahbazi Asl; A.A. Jafari; H. Panahpour
Abstract
In order to study the biomass yield in flowering stage and morphological traits in Mentha spp., 17 accessions of M. pulegium L. and 8 accessions of M. mozaffariani Jamzad were assessed in a field experiment over two years in the Alborz research station, Karaj Iran. The accessions were planted using ...
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In order to study the biomass yield in flowering stage and morphological traits in Mentha spp., 17 accessions of M. pulegium L. and 8 accessions of M. mozaffariani Jamzad were assessed in a field experiment over two years in the Alborz research station, Karaj Iran. The accessions were planted using a complete randomized blocks design in two replications. Each plot contained 15 spaced plants with 0.5 m intervals and 75 cm between rows. The drip irrigation system was used. Data were collected for fresh and dry matter yield over two years and plant height, stem number, number of flowers per plant, the canopy area, and flower length for one year. Data were analyzed, and species means were compared based on DMRT Method. The results showed significant difference between the species for all traits except dry matter yield (P<0.01). In comparisons between species, M. pulegium had higher values of all traits except flower length than that for M. mozaffariani. For fresh yield, M. pulegium with an average value of 183 g/plant had significantly higher production as compared with M. mozaffariani with an average value of 147 g/plant. There were significant differences among accessions for all traits in both species (P<0.01). In comparisons among the accessions of M. pulegium, the accessions Rafsanjan (23031) and Maryvan (22607) with the average of 252 and 231 g/plant had higher fresh yield over two years, respectively. For dry mater yield, Rafsanjan (23031) and Arak (22381) with average values of 115 and 111 g/plant had higher dry matter production, respectively. In comparisons among the accessions of M. mozaffariani, Urmia (19625) with average values of 202 and 98 g/plant had higher fresh and dry matter production, respectively. For essential oil percentage, there were no significant differences between two species; however, there was a significant difference for oil yield. M. pulegium with an average value of 1.14 g/plant had higher oil production than that for M. mozaffariani with an average value of 0.76 g/plant.
B. Omrani; S. Fallah
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield attributes and quality of purslane crop, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of Shahrekord University in 2014. Different fertilizer treatments were consisted of 13 ton ha-1 broiler litter (BLn), 14.4 ...
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In order to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield attributes and quality of purslane crop, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of Shahrekord University in 2014. Different fertilizer treatments were consisted of 13 ton ha-1 broiler litter (BLn), 14.4 ton ha-1 broiler litter (BLp), 39 ton ha-1 cattle manure (CMn), 16.87 ton ha-1 + cattle manure + 150 kg ha-1 urea (CMp+U), four chemical fertilizer (CF) levels equivalent to organic manure treatments, 260+86 kg ha-1 Urea +TSP CF (BLn), respectively, 287+100 kg ha-1 Urea +TSP, respectively CF (BLp), 260+200 kg ha-1 Urea +TSP , respectively CF (CMn), 260+100 kg ha-1 Urea +TSP , respectively CF (CMp + U) and control (C). The results indicated that there were no significant differences in plant height of CF (BLn) (55.43 cm) with chemical treatments (CF (BLp), CF (CMn), and organic treatments (BLp and BLn). No significant difference was found for the number of seed per capsule between BLp and BLn treatments (180.48 and 167.78 seed, respectively). The 1000-seed weight in treatments BLp, BLn, and CMn (0.44, 0.43, and 0.42 g, respectively) showed no significant difference. The 1000-seed weight of CMn, CF (BLn), and CMp + U treatments showed no significant difference as well. The seed yield, oil content, and oil yield of BLp treatment were significantly greater than that of control and other plots treated with manure. The amount of omega 3 in the BLp and BLn treatments was 85% and 79% higher as compared with the control (no fertilizer). Overall, the application of broiler litter could be effective in increasing the quality of the oil of this medicinal plant in addition to a significant increase in grain yield of purslane.
M. Mahmoodi Sourestani; M. Derikvandi; M. Chehrazi; A.A. Jafari
Abstract
In order to evaluate the compatibility of some borage (Borago officinalis L.) populations and cultivars to Ahvaz weather condition, an experiment was carried out based on a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments were six populations (Ahvaz, ...
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In order to evaluate the compatibility of some borage (Borago officinalis L.) populations and cultivars to Ahvaz weather condition, an experiment was carried out based on a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments were six populations (Ahvaz, Mashad, Andimeshk, Ghazvin, Esfehan and Mazandaran) and two cultivars (F1 and F2). Plant height, number of branches, leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of plants were measured at the full flowering stage. The one-thousand seed weight, seed and biological yields were measured at the end of the growing period. The seed oil was extracted by Soxhelt system and analyzed by gas chromatoghraphy (GC). Results showed that there was a significant difference between populations and cultivars for all morphological traits (p≥0.01). The highest and lowest amounts of leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of plant, biological yield, and oil content were obtained in F1 and Esfehan population, respectively. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic,γ-linolenic, arachidonic and erucicacids were detected in all populations and cultivars. The highest (43.41%) and lowest (17.21%) amounts of linoleic acid were observed in Andimeshk and Mashad, respectively. Mashad population had the maximum amount (60.54%) of oleic acid. The lowest amount of oleic acid (18.49%) was recorded in Andimeshk. The highest (15.25%) and lowest (7.96%) amounts of γ-linolenic acid were observed in F1 and Mashad, respectively. Mazandaran and Mashad populations had the maximum and minimum amounts of α-linolenic acid. The highest amount of palmitic and stearic acids was observed in Esfahan and Mazandaran populations, respectively. Mashad had the lowest amount of palmitic and stearic acids. According to the obtained results, further researches are recommended to increase the F1 cultivation inside Khuzestan province.
A. Rahmanpour; M. Nasiri; M.R. Farahpour
Abstract
Wound infections caused by Candida albicans, have substantially grown in recent years. The lack of easy access, medicine costliness, side effects, and development of the pharmaceutical resistance resulted in using biological materials as an alternative. Thymus vulgaris L. is one of the antimicrobial ...
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Wound infections caused by Candida albicans, have substantially grown in recent years. The lack of easy access, medicine costliness, side effects, and development of the pharmaceutical resistance resulted in using biological materials as an alternative. Thymus vulgaris L. is one of the antimicrobial properties of biological materials, whose effectiveness has been proved from a long time ago. This study analyzed the local effects of Thymus essential oil on healing the cutaneous incisional wounds in the case of rats infected with Candida albicans. In this experiment, carried out on 36 Wistar male rats with an average weight of 210±10 g, after general anesthesia and making a 1.5×1.5 cm square wound between the shoulder area, 0.5 ml. of the yeast suspension containing 1.5×106 CFU/ml Candida albicans was applied to the wound(s). Then, in three groups of 12 (to control with 3 percent and 1.5 percent local ointments), the rats were randomly distributed into 4 subgroups of 3 animals (each group was sampled on different days). During the experiment, in order to assess the histopathology and yeast count, at the end of 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th days, samples were taken by a special biopsy punch. According to the result drawn from this experiment, and regarding the effects of 3 percent and 1.5 percent ointments, there was not a conspicuous dissimilarity in reducing the Candida albicans yeast count, but in comparison with the control group, this dissimilarity was noticeably meaningful (P<0.001). Moreover, according to the histopathological studies, both ointments showed significantly remarkable results in terms of reduced blood vessels and mononuclear cells, increased fibroblast cells, and increased number of macrophages in comparison with the control group. Overall, since the 3 percent ointment had achievements similar to the 1.5 percent one, and mostly well-achieved as compared with the other (two) groups, it (the 3 percent ointment) would be the final choice to local usage in the process of healing and reducing of Candida albicans infections.
M. Ahankoub Ro; J. Fattahi Moghadam; R. Foutohi Ghazvini
Abstract
The natural biotypes in the germplasm collection of the Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center are a valuable genetic resource in the country that may not be suitable for fresh eating but they can be used in processing industry. Therefore, the fruits of 16 biotypes, coded as 6, 8, 15, 21, 24, ...
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The natural biotypes in the germplasm collection of the Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center are a valuable genetic resource in the country that may not be suitable for fresh eating but they can be used in processing industry. Therefore, the fruits of 16 biotypes, coded as 6, 8, 15, 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41, 43, 45, 48, 51, 52 and 53, were harvested at two stages, 60 days after 50% of flowering (after June drop) and 120 days after 50% of flowering (beginning of physiological maturity). Some variables were measured such as total phenol and antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid compounds including hesperidin, naringin, quercetin and catechin content. Results showed that the maximum amount of catechin and quersetin was observed at 60 days after 50% of flowering in the biotype 29. The. amount of Hesperidin and Naringin was significantly different between biotypes. The highest amount of hesperidin and naringin was observed in biotypes 43 and 41 at 120 days after flowering, respectively. Generally, antioxidant capacity was reduced during of growth whereas biotypes 6, 29, 43, and 51 had the highest antioxidant capacity at 60 days after flowering. The highest total phenol content was observed at maturity stage of fruits. Biotype 48 showed higher amount of total phenol as compared with other biotypes. Totally, biotypes 29, 41, and 43 have high potential of flavonoid compounds to be used in the genetic improvement programs of cultivar and rootstock, food processing and pharmaceutical industry.
A. Hassanzadeh; M. Heidari; H. Khoshghalb; H. Ghorbani Ghozhdi
Abstract
In order to study the effect of different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and foliar application of boron on some physiological traits in karela plants (Momordica charantia L.), a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the Sharood University ...
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In order to study the effect of different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and foliar application of boron on some physiological traits in karela plants (Momordica charantia L.), a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the Sharood University of Technology in 2013. The treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen fertilizer: 75, 150 and 225 kg N.ha-1 (urea source) as the first factor and four foliar applications of boron including: 0, 1, 2 and 3 g per liter of boric acid as the second factor. The traits measured in this study included the length and diameter of fruit, fruit yield, chlorophyll "a","b", and carotenoids, the conent of sugar nitrate and nitrate reductase enzyme activity. The results showed that, nitrogen fertilizer except diameter of fruit had significant on all of attribute traits. Foliar application of boron in this study had significant effect on fruit yield, the content of chlorophyll "b" (P<0.05) in leaf, sugar and the amont of nitrate in leaf and fruit (P<0.01). Interaction between nitrogen fertilizer and foliar application of boron had significant effect on fruit yield and leaf nitrate content. The results showed that the highest fruit yield was obtained at 150 kg N.ha-1 and 2 g per liter of boron. In addition, the highest amount of nitrate in leaf and fruit tissues was obtained at 225 kg N. ha-1 treatment. Finally, 150 kg N. ha-1 fertilizer and 2 g per liter of boron was identified as the best treatment to obtain maximum yield and fruit quality.
L. Alamshahi; M. Hosseini Nezhad
Abstract
Nowadays, using essential oils as natural antibacterial inhibitors to control of plant diseases has been widely investigated. In the current research, the essential oils of Coriandrum sativum L., Thymus sativum L., Cuminum cyminum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Eucalyptus globulus L. were extracted ...
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Nowadays, using essential oils as natural antibacterial inhibitors to control of plant diseases has been widely investigated. In the current research, the essential oils of Coriandrum sativum L., Thymus sativum L., Cuminum cyminum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Eucalyptus globulus L. were extracted by water distillation method and then the inhibitory effects were tested against Pectobacterium carotovorum (causal agent of bacterial wilt in potato) andRalstonia solanacearum (causal agent of softrot in potato) using paper disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by twofold broth dilution method. The experiments were analyzed by a completely randomized factorial design. Duncan’s multiple range test (MSTATC software) was used for comparison of means. Thyme oil exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in cultured media for both plant pathogenic bacteria, so it was selected to be applied in greenhouse experiments. The results showed that T. vulgaris had the most inhibition zone compared to the other oils in cultured media with 34.8 mm. In the greenhouse experiments, thyme oil was used for plant spraying and soil drenching methods at concentration of 0.5 and %1, respectively. According to the results, the thyme essential oil caused a significant reduction in soft rot and bacterial wilt incidence on potato by 41 and 44%, respectively compared with the control sample. Generally, thyme oil with a suitable antibacterial potential would be considered as an inhibitory agent to management of two studied diseases on potatoes.
M. Parsa; A. Zeinali
Abstract
Tropane alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine have wide application in the treatment of diseases such as asthma and antispasmodic due to anticholinergic agents. In the present study, the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the production of two alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine ,were studied ...
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Tropane alkaloids such as atropine and scopolamine have wide application in the treatment of diseases such as asthma and antispasmodic due to anticholinergic agents. In the present study, the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the production of two alkaloids, atropine and scopolamine ,were studied in hairy root and in vitro grown root cultures of Hyoscyamus niger L. The roots were cultured in liquid B5 medium containing different concentrations of SA (0, 0. 1, 1, 2 and 4 mM) in various exposure times (24, 96 and 168 hours). Eventually, root growth index, and atropine and scopolamine content were assayed after 30 days. In in vitro grown roots, treatment with 1mM SA resulted in the highest production of atropine after 168 hours, while the highest amount of scopolamine (649.53 µg/g D. W) was obtained in 2mM SA (after 96 hours), showing more than 13-fold increase compared to the control. In hairy root cultures, the most significant contents of atropine were observed in the medium containing 2mM SA after 96 h. Moreover, the highest content of scopolamine was achieved in medium treated with 0.1 mM SA after 96 hours. In general, atropine content in hairy roots was considerably higher than that of in vitro grown roots. In contrast, scopolamine content in in vitro grown roots was significantly more than that of hairy roots. Moreover, the rate of root growth declined as a result of increasing of elicitor concentration in the medium.
S. Mafakheri; B. Asghari; M. Shaltooki
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of biological, chemical and nano-fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative factors of Lallemantia iberica (M.B.) Fischer & Meyer, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in 2016, at the research greenhouse of Imam Khomeini International University, ...
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In order to investigate the effects of biological, chemical and nano-fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative factors of Lallemantia iberica (M.B.) Fischer & Meyer, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions in 2016, at the research greenhouse of Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 9 treatments and 5 replications. Treatments included control (no fertilizer), biophosphat, nitroxin, nano fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, biophosphat×nitroxin, nitroxin×nano fertilizer, biophosphate×nano fertilizer, and biophosphat×nitroxin×nano fertilizer. Analysis of variance revealed that treatments significantly affected the plant height, fresh and dry weight, essential oil content, and essential oil constituents of dragon’s head. The maximum plant height (35gr) was obtained by applying chemical fertilizer, the highest fresh and dry weight (36.05 gr and 5.09 gr respectively) were found in the treatment with nitroxin×nano fertilizer, and the highest essential oil percentage with an average of 0.57% belonged to the biophosphate×nano fertilizer treatment. Twenty-four compounds were identified in the essential oils of L. iberica, of which the main constituents were limonene, linalool, verbenone, ß-caryophyllene, germacrene-D and β-cubeben. The highest limonene (7%) occurred with the nitroxin×biophosphate; the maximum amount of linalool (17.9%) was obtained by nitroxin×nano fertilizer; maximum percentage of verbenone (8.8%) was found in the treatment with biophosphate×nitroxin×nano fertilizer; the highest percentage of β-caryophyllene (12%) was observed with biophosphate×nano fertilizer; the highest amount of germacrene-D and β-cubeben (15% and 11.5%, respectively) in the essential oil were obtained by application of nano fertilizer. In addition, our results indicated that the combination of nano, nitroxin and biophosphate fertilizers could improve the growth and quality of dragon’s head plants.
A. Kazeminasab; M. Yarnia; M.H. Lebaschi; B. Mirshekar; F. Rajali
Abstract
Effects of vermicompost and plant growth promoting biofertilizers on the essential oil composition of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) were studied under different irrigation conditions. The study was conducted in a split-split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with ...
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Effects of vermicompost and plant growth promoting biofertilizers on the essential oil composition of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) were studied under different irrigation conditions. The study was conducted in a split-split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications, at Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands.Treatments included irrigation in two levels (100 and 60% FC drought stress), vermicompost in three levels (0, 5 and 10t/ha) and plant growth promoting biofertilizers in four levels (Pseudomonas fluorescence, Azotobacter + Azospirillum, Azotobacter + Azospirillum + P. fluorescence, and the control). The essential oil components including citronellal, geraniol, neral, β-caryophyllene and methyl citronellat were studied. The interaction of irrigation × vermicompost showed significant effect on citronellal at P≤0.01 and on geraniol and methyl citronellat at P≤0.05. Mean comparison of irrigation indicated that the highest and lowest citronellal, geraniol, neral and β-caryophyllene, were obtained for drought stress and normal irrigation (100% FC), respectively. The highest and lowest methyl citronellat were recorded for the normal irrigation and drought stress (60% FC), respectively. Mean comparison of the effect of vermicompost showed that the highest (47.7%) and lowest (45%) citronellal were obtained for 10 t/ha vermicompost and control treatments, respectively. Application of 5 t/ha vermicompost resulted in the highest β-caryophyllene (6%). Mean comparison of the biofertilizers indicated that Azotobacter + Azospirillum + P. fluorescence had the highest citronellal (47.2%) and β-caryophyllene (5.9%); the lowest citronellal (45.6%) and β-caryophyllene (5.1%) were achieved in the control. Drought stress increased the essential oil compounds. Vermicompost just affected the citronellal. In addition, PGPR had a positive effect only on citronellal and β-caryophyllene.
R. Sharifpoor; A. Jafari; H. Jhanbazi Gojani
Abstract
Heart disease and cancer preventive effects of nut kernels are a well-known feature of the Persian diet. We hypothesized that the quality and quantity of mountain almond (Amygdalus Arabica Olivier) oil in Zagros forests changes as the mother tree locations varies on different aspects. In the current ...
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Heart disease and cancer preventive effects of nut kernels are a well-known feature of the Persian diet. We hypothesized that the quality and quantity of mountain almond (Amygdalus Arabica Olivier) oil in Zagros forests changes as the mother tree locations varies on different aspects. In the current study, sampling was carried out on five healthy trees at each 5 different crown diameter classes from 0.5 to 4 meter were selected with 0.5-meter interval. The trees distribution was uniform over two distinct Northern and Southern aspects. For each tree, 10g nut kernel was sampled in laboratory. Macro elements and fatty acid contents were evaluated after a Soxhlet extraction on each kernel meal. Data were analyzed in Excel and SAS software package. The oil concentration was significantly higher in kernels coming from Southern slopes; in average, 15.76% against 14.84% of those from Northern slopes. The maximum (18.94%) and minimum (10.94%) oil contents were belonged to the trees with a crown diameter of 4 and 2, respectively. The highest potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen contents were detected in kernels collected on Southern slopes. However, the highest content of calcium in kernels was obtained from Northern slopes.
Gh. Habibi; P. Ghorbanzade; M. Abedini
Abstract
In this study, the influence of hydroponically applied (0.1, 1 and 10mg l-1) and foliar-applied (10mg l-1) Na2SeO3 on the some physiological characteristics of Melissa officinalis L. was investigated. The results indicated that the root application of 10mg l-1 Se could decrease shoot fresh and dry mass, ...
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In this study, the influence of hydroponically applied (0.1, 1 and 10mg l-1) and foliar-applied (10mg l-1) Na2SeO3 on the some physiological characteristics of Melissa officinalis L. was investigated. The results indicated that the root application of 10mg l-1 Se could decrease shoot fresh and dry mass, and caused an improved lipid peroxidation in hydroponically grown lemon balm. Se supply at 10mg l-1 in lemon balm exhibited a significantly positive effect on accumulation of total chlorophyll, and raised the activity of catalase, but these mechanisms could not ameliorate the negative effect of Se toxicity on productivity, as was indicated by a higher malondialdehyde concentration. Our results indicated that for biofortification program with lemon balm, the application of Se as selenate at low concentrations (0.1 and 1mg l-1) would be more beneficial because it favored shoot biomass growth. In contrast, the results from field experiment indicated that foliar-applied Se (10mg l-1) was favorable for biomass accumulation in lemon balm. In this work, the foliar application of selenium induced higher activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase as well as the higher total phenol content, which appear to act as protective compounds. It was concluded that foliar applications to lemon balm at 10mg Se l-1 can effectively cause a significantly higher growth rate, improve Se content and phenolic compounds.
F. Ghanepasand; M.R. Haj Seyed Hadi
Abstract
In order to assess the effects of nitrogen fixing bacteria and manure application on yield and essential oil of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), an experiment was carried out at the RAN Research Station in Firouzkouh in 2012. The study was conducted in a 4×4 factorial experiment, arranged in a ...
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In order to assess the effects of nitrogen fixing bacteria and manure application on yield and essential oil of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), an experiment was carried out at the RAN Research Station in Firouzkouh in 2012. The study was conducted in a 4×4 factorial experiment, arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The treatments consisted of 4 levels of manure (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ton ha-1) and 4 levels of fixing bacteria (Control, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Azotobacter + Azospirillum). The present results showed that the highest height (48.7 cm), essential oil percentage (0.14 %) and essential oil yield (768.31 g ha-1) were obtained after using 7.5 ton manure ha-1. While, the highest biological yield (1829.16 kg ha-1) and seed yield (556.22 kg ha-1) were obtained by 5 ton manure ha-1. Results of this investigation showed that the maximum plant height (49.61 cm), seed yield (553.41 kg ha-1), harvest index (37.71 %), biological yield (1697.21 kg ha-1) and essential oil yield (664.09 g ha-1) were obtained when Aotobacter+Azospirillum was inoculated with black cumin seeds simultaneously. Combined application of nitrogen fixing bacteria and manure could be helpful in developing of production and yield in Nigella sativa L.
S. Yousefzadeh; F. Sefidkon
Abstract
To determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of six dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) populations at six habitats, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with three replications (at intervals of 500 to 1000 m) in 2013. Each dragonhead population ...
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To determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of six dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) populations at six habitats, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with three replications (at intervals of 500 to 1000 m) in 2013. Each dragonhead population belongs to a habitat including Salmas, Urmia, Khoy, Maragheh, Piranshahr and Tabriz. The szk-1cultivar, as a control treatment, was planted in the Research Field of Payam Noor University (PNU) in Marand. In each habitat, flowering branches of dragonhead were collected in full flowering stage. In this study, some traits such as plant height, number of branches, number of flowering branches, essential oil content, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in shoot as well as chlorophyll contents (a, b and total), carotenoids, flavonoids and anthocyanins were measured. According to the obtained results, the effect of habitat was significant on plant height, number of branches, essential oil, the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll and flavonoids at 5% level as well as on number of flowering branches and anthocyanin amount at 1% level. Results showed that the highest plant height and nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll, carotenoids and essential oil contents were obtained from Salmas population. The Szk-1 cultivar produced the highest number of lateral and flowering branches and total flavonoids in Marand. In general, Salmas population had the best growth characteristics and qualitative traits. Therefore, this population could be used to produce varieties with desirable agronomic properties.
