Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Wild Populations of Achillea bieberstenii Afan. Using Agro-morphological and Germination Traits

Abstract

There is substantial diversity in<em> Achillea biebersteinii</em> plants in Iran. It has considerable different biological activities including antibacterial<em>, </em>antifungal<em>, </em>antioxidant<em>, </em>insecticidal<em>, </em>herbicidal and wound healing. Research improvement for medicinal plants depends on the available genetic diversity. The assessment of genetic variability could increase the information for breeding programs. To evaluate possible diversity among different populations of <em>A.</em> <em>biebersteinii</em><em>, </em>agro-morphological and germination traits of the populations were investigated. To evaluate agro-morphological traits<em>, </em>seeds of 22 populations were sown in the field. The experiment was laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. A total of six agro-morphological traits including plant height<em>, </em>plant diameter<em>, </em>lateral shoot number<em>, </em>flower diameter<em>, </em>flower number and shoot yield<em>, </em>were collected. For evaluation of seed germination traits<em>, </em>seeds of 10 populations were sown in standard condition ((20±2 °C) and pre-cold treatment (7 days at 4 °C followed by standard condition). The seed germination traits were studied as hypocotyl length<em>, </em>radicle length<em>, </em>radicle to hypocotyl length ratio<em>, </em>seedling length<em>, </em>germination percentage,germination rate and vigor index. Based on the results the population 20187 (Golestan) had the highest value for all of agro-morphological traits. For germination traits the populations 10140 (Minoodasht) and 17310 (Shahrood) were the best performing populations. The result showed that pre cold treatment reduced radicle length in most cases but population 17310 (Shahrood) produced significantly longer radicle under pre-cold treatment. This population was recommended for dry cold regions.