Effect of Planting Date on Productivity of Three Anise Ecotypes (Pimpinella anisum L.)

Abstract

The research was carried out at Abu Jarash Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Damascus, during the growing seasons (2015-2016/ 2016-2017) to determine the effect of two planting dates (15 November and 15 December) on productivity of three Anise ecotypes collected from three governorates in Syria, Damascus countryside (Hena), Hama (Salamiyah) and Idlib (Saraqib). The experiment was laid out using completely randomized block design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement with three replicates.

Statistical analysis results showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in all the studied traits. The first planting date was significantly superior in oil percentage (3.4 %) and the second planting date was superior in the yield of fruits       (69.47 g.m^-2). Results showed that the ecotype, Hama was significantly superior in the number of main branches, number of umbels per plant and fruit yield (6.25 branche.plant^-1, 9.22 umbel.plant^-1, 73.28 g.m^-2), while the ecotype Hena was significantly superior in the plant height, weight of 1000 fruits and oil percentage (60.25 cm, 2.3 g, 4.09 % respectively) for all the studied planting distances. The highest fruit yield was recorded for Hama's ecotype at the second planting date (74.84 g.m^-2), while the highest percentage of oil was recorded in Hena's ecotype at the first planting date (4.16 %).