an evaluation of genetic diversity of iranian shallot (allium hirtifolium boiss.) genotypes using morphological traits

seventeen iranian shallot genotypes from ashtian arak boroujerd dashtearjan doshmanziari divandareh khomein khansar sepidan siakhdarengoon sahne kangavar koohrang koohmaresorkhi nahavand harsin and yasouj areas were evaluated for their morphological traits. corms were collected from the mentioned regions and planted based on a complete block design. quantitative and qualitative traits leaf length width diameter as well as leaf number scape length and diameter inflorescence diameter number of flowers in inflorescence floret peduncle lenght and mean diameter corm mean weight number of cormlet(s) clustered corm percent dry matter percentage as well as ash percentage of corm were assessed. analysis of variance indicated that the studied genotypes significantly differed for all traits except for leaf width and floret peduncle length. khansar genotype had the highest corm diameter (62.05 mm) corm mean weight (140.45 g) as well as yield (1400.45 g/m2). cluster analysis resulted in the genotypes being divided into three subgroups. arak doshmanziari koohmaresorkhi khansar harsin and nahavand genotypes were placed in the first group khomein yasuj boroujerd divandareh and sepidan genotypes in the second while dashtearjan koohrang ashtian siakhdarengoon sahne and kangavar genotypes in the third group. results indicated that iranian shallot is completely different from the common shallot (allium ascalonicum) species with a wide diversity that makes it a valuable genetic resource for breeding programs.