Collection, Regeneration and Evaluation of Cultivated Species of Okra, Sweet corn, Sweet fennol and basil

In order to enrich the Okra ,Sweet corn, basil and Sweet fennol collection of Nationalplant Gene-bank of Iran, the research project of collection, regeneration and evaluation of cultivated species of Okra ,Sweet corn, basil and Sweet fennol commenced since nationally continued in ٢٦ provinces of Iran during ١٣٨٤-١٣٨٧. A total of ٩٥ accessions of (Okra), ٥٨ accessions of (Sweet corn), ٢٠٠ accessions of (basil) and ٩٨ accessions of (Sweet fennol) were collected according to the descriptors of IPGRI. Characteristics of collection sites including latitude, water and soil types and topographical conditions affecting the climate, were recorded according to IPGRI descriptor. In order to regenerate sufficient genetic material, the collected samples were categorized climatically according to the location of collection and sent to related research centers in the fifth year of the project. Regenerated samples were then resent to headquarter in Karaj which currently preserved in two active and basal collections in a packaged form so that in case of need by breeders or students to exploit this germplasm in breeding or development of new varieties or academic researches, the sufficient material and recorded data would be available. The accessions under study were cultivated in Karaj in order to identify and evaluate qualitative and morphological traits. Collected accessions were planted in two meters long rows wids ٧٥ cm inter-rows distance in research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute. The plants were irrigated weekly and no fertilizer or fungicide was used during cultivation practice. A total of ٥samples out of ٩٥ collected genetic resources of Okra,٥٨ collected genetic resources of Sweet corn, ١٠samples out of ٢٠٠ collected genetic resources of Sweet fennol and ١١ samples out of ٩٨ collected genetic resources of basil failed to germinate and therefore were removed form the cycle of preserving and data recording.