ABSTRACT
Background: Achievement of optimal production of medicinal plants along with adherence to scientific principles of sustainable agriculture is of great importance
Objective: Evaluation of different mycorrhiza fungi and biophosphorus fertilizer on morphological, yield, yield components, and quality and quantity of essential oils in cumin
Methods: This study was carried out in a factorial experiment based on RCBD with three replications at Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. Factors were considered as inoculation with mycorrhiza species [G. mosseae, G. interradices, G. hoi] and types of biophosphate application [seed inoculation, and seed inoculation + foliar application], and non inoculation with employed treatments considered as control
Results: Results showed statistically [P <0.01] significant increase in plant height, canopy diameter, number of stem branches, number of umbel in plant, number of umbelet in umbel, number of seeds in umbel, number of seeds in plant, seed thousand weight, seed yield and essential oils content upon application of treatments compared to control. The highest value of plant height, canopy diameter, number of stem branches, number of umbel in plant and essential oils content were achived in plants inoculated with G. interradices. Maximum essential oil content and yield were obtained in plants treated with G. interradices, and the highest value of major oil constituents [Cuminaldehyde, p-Mentha-1,4-dien-7-ol, gamma-Terpinene, gamma-Terpinene-7-al, beta-Pinene, p-Cymene and Myrcene] was identified from G. mosseae and G. hoi treated plants
Conclusion: Totally and accordance with iteraction effects, co-application of G. interradices and foliar spray of biophosphate fertilizer produced maximum essential oil content and yield in cumin