Identification of suitable Iranian ecotypes of cumin for cold rainfed conditions

Abstract

Drought-tolerant cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) genotypes could be used as an alternative crop in the cold drylands of Iran. In order to evaluate national cumin ecotypes for drought tolerance, 20 ecotypes of local cumin were tested in a complete randomized block design during the spring of 2013-2014. Several drought tolerance indices were calculated based on seed yield under drought and irrigated conditions. Our results showed that drought stress significantly influenced cumin performance. Seed yield in some ecotypes under drought stress was 35% lower than in non-stressed conditions. Screening Iranian cumin ecotypes using drought tolerance indices was able to discriminate accessions from Razavi-Khorasan and Southern-Khorasan provinces as being the most drought-tolerant ecotypes. Cluster analysis classified all 20 genotypes into three groups including tolerant, semi-tolerant and susceptible to drought. Variation to drought tolerance was observed between ecotypes, even those originating from the same province. It is concluded that drought-tolerant cumin ecotypes from Razavi-Khorasan and Southern-Khorasan provinces are suitable spring crops in cold drylands.