Vegetos

Abstract

In order to study yield and yield components in different ecotypes of saffron (Mashhad, Torbat-Jam, Gonabad and Birjand), an experiment was conducted during 2009–2010 cropping seasons in Mashhad region, Khorasan Province, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results from variance analysis indicate significant differences between saffron ecotypes regard to all yield components traits. Also, regard to all traits especially dry yield, the results from mean comparison among traits highlighted Mashhad ecotype as the best (3.03 Kg/h) and Birjand ecotype as the worst (1.77 Kg/h) at Mashhad climate. Also, according to result from cluster analysis and ecotypes comparisons, Mashhad and Torbat-Jam ecotypes classified together and Gonabad and Birjand ecotypes classified together, due to their similarity. Finally, from results of this study, it can be concluded that sterility of saffron which force us to reproduce it asexual, and also it lead to reducing genetic diversity. In other hands, environmental conditions and ecological circumstances are effective factors on agronomic and genetic exhibitions of traits and phenotype of plants. Generally, these are able to manipulate manifested phenotype in different ecotypes. Hence, to establish new and efficient farms we recommend paying attention to corm quality and ecological requirements of corms cultivation. In other hands, evaluating climate and ecological parameters to select the most adaptable genotypes in the region is necessary.