Abstract
The objective of this study was to observe the effect of environmental conditions on resin yield, essential oil content and composition of nine populations of bitter Ferula assa-foetida from different rangelands in Kerman province, Iran. The resin yield was 50.76–69.64g/plant that had positive correlation with precipitation rate. Results showed essential oil content extracted from asafoetida resin varied from 7.24 to 10.07 (%v/w). Chemical profiles of nine samples showed (E)-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (37.30–53.99%) and (Z)-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (12.10–23.10%) were the main constituents of the essential oils. Correlation analysis showed the maximum accumulations of essential oil and sulphur compounds in asafoetida were associated with different mean annual temperatures and altitude. With increasing altitude and decreasing temperature the contents of these parameters reduced. The analysis of soil physicochemical properties showed that asafoetida can grow on poor soils with light structure. The chemical variation of the essential oil composition was discussed according to the results of cluster analysis. Cluster analysis of identified components grouped the essential oils into four main clusters that corresponded with their major components, but did not find any chemotype in studied populations.
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