Determination of suitable conditions for Shirazi thyme (Zataria multiflora Boiss. Shiraz ecotype) seed germination

The Zataria genus of the mint family in Iran has only one species of shrub called Shirazi thyme (Azkand) which is a rare medicinal and aromatic plant and grows in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, and the southern regions of Iran. Shirazi thyme is native to the south and southwest of Iran, and its natural habitats in Iran are in rocky slopes in the Sahara-Sandy and Irano-Turani regions in the provinces of Isfahan, Yazd, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Fars, and Hormozgan. It is located in Khuzestan, Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchistan. Shirazi thyme propagates through both vegetative and reproductive seed. Seeds are tiny so that the determination of optimal conditions for germination and seedling establishment is totally important. To plant seeds in the nursery, seeds are placed under a thin layer of soil (maximum ۰.۵ centimeter depth) and cultivated along with splash irrigation. Actually, direct cultivation of Shirazi thyme in the field causes a lot of problems. Although seeds are necessary for reproduction and development, suitable conditions for seed germination in laboratories are not considered. Therefore, thyme seeds were investigated in different temperatures and substrates in the laboratory in order to achieve a citable procedure for the evaluation of these seeds.

کلیدواژه ها:

Shirazi thyme ، Zataria multiflora ، seed germination ، medicinal plants ، Iran