Title: Assessment of fennel (Foeniculum vulgar Mill.) populations under hormonal treatments in terms of callus and its essential oil profile
Abstract: In this research callogenesis and essential oil content changes of hypocotyl explants callus in five fennel populations (German, Antep, Isfahan, Karaj and Torbatjam) on MS medium under two combined hormonal NAA (1-Naphthaleneacetic acid) + BA (6-Benzylaminopurine) and Kinetin + 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) treatments were studied. The percent of callogenesis, diameter of callus, fresh and dry weight of callus characteristics were evaluated, and also the callus essential oil compounds of populations determined using GCMS. The analysis of variance showed no significant differences between hormonal treatments for studied characteristics in populations. However, there were significant differences among populations for all traits. The interaction of hormonal treatments and populations was significant only for dry weight trait. Considerable variation was seen in the amount of essential oil components. Highest Trans-anethole (the main metabolite of fennel) content in fennel callus oil, were observed in Antep population under NAA+BA hormonal treatment.