Evaluation and regeneration of Ferula assa-foetida

Ferula assa-foetida is a Monocarpic and Monoecious plant of family Apiaceae that is native of moist and semi-arid mountainous regions of Iran. In this research ۱) regeneration of ۱۰۰ accessions of the Natural Resources Gene Bank ۲) seed germination analysis ۳) variation of seed morphological traits of ۳۰ accessions, ۴) genetic diversity of ۳۰ accessions by seed storage proteins by SDS-PAGE method were studied. The results showed that the asafetida seeds had a relatively long dormancy period. Moist-chilling is dormancy-breaking treatment for deep morphophysiological dormancy of the asafetida seeds. Duration of moist-chilling treatment among different accessions varied from ۷ to ۶۴ days, indicated considerable variation in the germplasm of this species. Although it seems restoration of asafetida plants in the Karaj region (with altitude of ۱۳۰۰ meters above sea level) is possible, the plantation of the plants in Karaj was not successful. The lack of establishment of asafetida accessions in Karaj region is due to global warming. Regeneration of the asafetida carried out at the Humand Station, (with altitude of ۱۹۵۰ meters above sea level) successfully. Comparison of Seedling and Seed planting methods in field showed that the seedling planting was more successful than Seed planting. Therefore, it is recommended to use the seedling method to restore this species. The results of this study indicate that the use of morphological and seed storage proteins markers were effective for genetic diversity analysis in asafetida. High morphological and genetic variation among asafetida accessions is due to cross-pollination in this species. The high genetic diversity can be used in different breeding, classification and identification programs.