Evaluation of Drought Resistance Criteria in Some Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) Landraces

Cumin is one of the most important herbal drug crops of Iran and used in traditional foods. It needs low water for growth cycle, and grows in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. For evaluation of drought resistance of some cumin landraces of Iran, two experiments as under drought stress and normal condition were conducted. The parameters of leaf water potential, osmotic potential, harvest index and stress susceptibility index (SSI) were studied on cumin landraces. Sarvestan-e Fars, Tabriz and Sabzevar landraces were distinguished as drought tolerant landraces. Cluster analysis using single linkage method, classified the genotypes into three groups. Sabzevar, Sarvestan-e Fars, Tabriz and Khorasan2-374 landraces made the first group, Zirkoh-e Quen, Qunabad and Ferdous landraces included in the second group, and Kerman landrace, alone, was located in the third group.