Seed yield stability with modified essential oil content and composition in self-compatible progenies of bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

• Published in: Industrial crops and products 2022-08, Vol.182, p.114821, Article 114821
• Main Authors: Shojaiefar, Samira, Sabzalian, Mohammad R., Mirlohi, Aghafakhr, Mirjalili, Mohammad Hossein
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apiaceae; Estragole; Fennel; Foeniculum vulgare; Inbreeding; Pollination
• ISSN: 0926-6690; 1872-633X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.114821

Genetic progress as the mean yield increase within self (S1), and open-pollinated (OP) plants from eight bitter fennel populations were studied using the best nine full-sib (S1) and their corresponding nine half-sib (OP) plants from each population for agro-morphological traits and essential oil characteristics during two years. The average of S1 populations showed depression for all studied characteristics particularly the number of effective umbels per plant (NEUP) as the main yield component. However, some of the best S1 progenies performed well with stable and comparable yield to OP progenies. In addition, self-pollination interestingly increased the percentage of four major compounds including α-pinene, limonene, fenchone, and estragole in the essential oil (EO). In most populations, α-pinene, limonene, and fenchone were 2–4 times higher in selected S1 genotypes compared to OP counterparts. An inbred plant with more than 10-fold higher estragole content than the normal range was also identified among the selected genotypes. Conversely, the percentage of (E)-anethole decreased due to self-pollination in all selected plants in both years. Therefore, it may be concluded that although self-pollination has deleterious effects on the population’s general fitness, it may lead to improvement in the composition of EO in high-performing selected genotypes of bitter fennel for specific purposes and further utilization in pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted] •Fennel open-pollinated genotypes had higher essential oil content than inbred ones.•Selfing increased the percentage of α-pinene, limonene, fenchone, and estragole in fennel.•(E)-anethole content decreased in selected plants of bitter fennel after self-pollination.•Selfing may improve essential oil composition in selected high-yielding genotypes of fennel.