Impact of Climatic and Geographical Conditions on Morphological Diversity in Harmel (Peganum harmala) Ecotypes: A Study from Western Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Engineering, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran-Iran

2 Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran-Iran

Abstract

Given the significance of the harmel plant (Peganum harmala) in various pharmaceutical and health industries, along with its extensive geographical distribution across certain regions of the country, this experiment was designed to assess the impact of climatic and geographical conditions on morphological traits. The study evaluated the genetic diversity of different harmel ecotypes collected from various locations in western Iran. Future research will investigate the effects of climatic factors and environmental conditions across four habitats: three located in Asadabad (Hamedan) Mousi-Abad Village 1, Mousi-Abad Village 2, and Najaf-Abad Village 3 and one in Kangavar (Kermanshah), specifically Kharkhane Village, situated in western Iran. The study aims to assess how these varying habitats influence the morphological traits of harmel plants. harmel samples were collected and identified simultaneously in early July 2023. The results of the analysis of variance indicated that habitat significantly influenced various traits at the 1% probability level, including chlorophyll index, height, number of flowers per plant, number of leaves, number of branches, fresh weight of a single stem, total fresh weight of the bush, and dry weight of a single stem. Additionally, a significant effect was observed at the 5% probability level for stem diameter. Ecotype No. 4 (from Mousi-Abad Village 2) exhibited a higher total dry weight yield compared to the other ecotypes studied. Principal component analysis identified key components related to seed yield and plant height, while cluster analysis successfully differentiated the harmel growing habitats across the two provinces. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of harmel ecotypes' morphological diversity and adaptability to different habitats in Iran. The findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in shaping plant traits and provide a foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing harmel cultivation practices. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern statistical methods, it is possible to enhance the sustainability and productivity of this valuable medicinal plant.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Abdousi V., Raushiti Z., Ahadi P. A new look at the pharmacological effects of Harmel plant. The Third National Conference on New Topics in Agric. 2014; 26:241-231. (In Persian)
  2. Alenajaf A.A.F., Moghimi M.A., Mohebi A.A., Mohammad-Zadeh M. Effect of Harmaline on seizure induced byamygdala kindling in rats. J. North Khorasan Uni. Med. Sci. 2015; 6(4):697-706. doi: 10.29252/jnkums.6.4.697.
  3. Aslam N., Wani A.A., Nawchoo I.A., Bhat M.A. Distribution and medicinal importance of Peganum harmala-A review. Int J Adv Res. 2014; 2(2):751-755.
  4. Bakhtiar Z, Hassandokht M.R., Naghavi M.R., Mirjalili M.H. Study of variability in agro-morphological traits, proximate composition, and phenolic compounds of some Trigonella L. species in Iran. J. Med. Plants. 2022; 21(82):1-12. doi: 10.52547/jmp.21.82.1.
  5. Darabpour E., Motamedi H., Poshtkouhian Bavi A., Nejad S., Mansour S. Antibacterial activity of different parts of Peganum harmala L. growing in Iran against multi-drug resistant bacteria. EXCLI J. 2011; 10:252-263.
  6. Deylami Moezi A., Faghir M.B., Shavun Shahi R. Flower and fruit micro-macro morphological characters of the genus Sanguisorba L. (Rosaceae) from Iran. J. Plant Biol. 2019; 10(4):53-68. doi: 10.22108/ijpb.2018.109172.1073 (In Persian)
  7. Eisapoor M., Hemmati Kh., Hemmati N. Study of the Effect of Habitat on Morphological and phytochemical traits of Horsemint (Mentha longifolia L.). J. Hortic. Sci. 2020; 33(4):698-710. doi.org/10.22067/jhorts4.v33i4.79019. (In Persian)
  8. Herraiz T., Gonzalez D., Ancín-Azpilicueta C., Arán V.J., Guillén H. Beta-Carboline alkaloids in peganum harmala and inhibition of human monoamine oxidase (MAO). Food Chem. Toxicol. 2010; 48(3):839-845. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2009.12.019.
  9. Kakaei M. Evaluation of diversity of bread wheat genotypes under different moisture condi-tions using diverse statistical methods. Env. Stresses Crop Sci. 2019; 12(1):55-74. https://doi.org/10.22077/escs.2018.1239.1251. (In Persian)
  10. Kakaei M. Selection of Old and New Varieties of Bread Wheat Tolerant to Drought Stress after the Flowering Stage. J Crop Breed. 15 2023; (46):189-197. doi:10.61186/jcb.15.46.189. (In Persian)
  11. Kakaei M., Mazahery laqab H. Evaluation of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) germplasm using multivariat statistical analysis. Iranian J. of Rangelands and Forests Plant Breeding and Genetic Res. 2014; 22(1):125-132. doi:10.22092/ijrfpbgr.2014.7689. (In Persian)
  12. Kakaei M., Moosavi S.S. Assessing genetic diversity and selection of effective traits on yield of Chickpea lines using multivariate statistical methods. J. Environ. Sci. 2017; 15(2):21-38. (In Persian)
  13. Kakaei M., Kahrizi D., Moosavi S.S. Assessing the relationships of lint-yield and cottonseed-yield with some agro-morphological traits of Gossypium hirsutum var. Varamin by path analysis. Iranian cotton res. 2016; 4(2):101-114. doi: 10.22092/ijcr.2017.113073. (In Persian)
  14. Kakaei M., Zebarjadi A., Mostafaie A., Rezaeizad A. Determination of drought tolerant genotypes in Brassica napus L. based on drought tolerance indices. J. crop prod. 2010; 3(4):107-124. doi: 20.1001.1.2008739.1389.3.4.7.8. (In Persian)
  15. Nazarpoor S., Salimi A., Chavoushi M. Evaluating the changes of phytochemical and morphological parameters of Peganum harmala L. under salinity stress. Iranian Med.Plants Tech. 2015; 3(2):43-57. doi: 10.22092/MPT.2021.354626.1080 [In Persian].
  16. Rajni H., Zaid Ali A. Local knowledge of medicinal use of Harmel plant (Peganum harmala) in South Khorasan. The first national conference of aromatic and spicy medicinal plants. 1, May, 2015; 8-1. (In Persian)
  17. Roostaee Z. Effect of Alkaloids Belong to β-Carbolines Family in Peganum Harmala on Cancer Cells. sarem journal of medical research (SJMR). 2018; 3(1):73-78. doi: 10.29252/sjrm.2.2.73.
  18. Sartavi K. Investigation of geographical distribution and properties of eight important medicinal species in Bushehr province. National Conference of Iranian Medicinal Plants, 2013; 119. (In Persian)
  19. Singh A.B., Chaturvedi J., Narender T., Srivastava A.K. Preliminary studies on the hypoglycemic effect of Peganum harmala L. seeds ethanol extract on normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Indian J. Clin. Biochem. 2008; 23(4):391-3.
  20. Zeng X., Xing F.W. Ethno botanical study on medicinal plants around, Hainan Island, China. J. Ethno. 2009; 124(4):197-210.
Journal of Medicinal plants and By-Products

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 January 2025

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics