Ajowan

The research work was conducted to study the performance of genotypes of ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L.) at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam. Twenty genotypes of ajowan were evaluated under field conditions to assess the growth, yield, quality and physiological attributes. Per se performance, magnitude of variability and degree of association of characters, direct and indirect effect were studied for growth, flowering, physiology, yield and quality traits of ajowan genotypes. Among the genotypes evaluated, the genotypes Acc. No.3, LTa-26, LS-1 and GA-1 recorded higher seed yield per plant. While considering the quality characters, the genotypes Acc. No.3 and GA-1 were found promising for essential oil content and the genotypes Acc. No.3, JA-110, Acc.No.5 and GA-1, JA-190 for protein content. The essential oil extracted from selected ajowan genotypes were found to contain the major constituents viz., p- cymene, ¿-terpinene and thymol which were estimated through gas chromatography. It was found that the accessions LTa-26, Acc. No. - 3 and GA-1, the highest thymol contents.