Investigation on morphological traits and root yield of Iranian chicory genotypes

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is an old volunteer pharmaceutical plant. Root, leaf and seed of the plant contain Inulin, Sesquiterpenoid lactones, Coumarin and Flavonoids. Chicory cultivation is developing as the main source of Inulin at Europe countries, Japan, China and other countries. This investigation was done to evaluate 11 Iranian genotypes of chicory for Inulin production along with a Hungarian population of root chicory as a control during 2012. Genotypes were planted on mid March at Institute of Food Science and Technology, Mashhad, Iran. Traits under study were leaf width and length, root and shoot dry weight and their ratio at two stages (beginning of rosette and one month before harvesting date), time of flowering stem formation, bud number in crown, hair of leaves and stem, and final plant height. It was approved that there is no correlation between Inulin percentage and Inulin yield of chicory, therefore, root yield, the most effective component of Inulin yield, was identified as the major cause of increase of Inulin production. Dry root weight per plant was favorable at first sampling at rosette stage to before stem elongation and flowering (8 weeks after sowing) in Iranian genotypes and even Mollasani genotype had significant higher dry root weight than control. But this trait was significantly lower than that of control at the second sampling (26 weeks after sowing), one month before harvesting.
Iranian Journal of Rangelands and Forests Plant Breeding and Genetic Research
Volume 23, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
September 2015
Pages 226-236

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