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

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, 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.

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Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Medicinal plants and By-Products
Volume 14, Issue 3
May and June 2025
Pages 215-221

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