Determination of agronomic and quality characteristics of different populations of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) under the conditions of Aydın

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the agronomic and quality characteristics of different black cumin populations under Aydın ecological conditions. Material and Methods: In the one-year trial, 12 populations of black cumin (Ankara-Kahramankazan, Antalya, Burdur, Bursa, Çorum-Sungurlu, Kırıkkale-Balışeyh, Kırıkkale-Bohşık, Tokat, Sivas-Şarkışla, Şanlıurfa, Yozgat, Syria) and a registered variety (Çameli) were used. The experiment, which was organised in four replicates according to the randomised block design, was conducted in the 2023-2024 growing season at the field trial site of the Department of Field Crops at Adnan Menderes University in Aydın. Results: In the experiment; emergence period 40,75-79 days, first flowering period 52-77,25 days, 50% flowering period 59-92 days, vegetation period 104-142,25 days, plant height 28,49- 39,85 cm, number of branches per plant 4,18-5,88 pcs/plant, number of capsules per plant 5,25-9,17 pcs/plant, seed yield per plant was 0.86-1.76 g/plant, thousand seed weight was 2.63-4.31 g, biological yield was 76.88-250.73 kg/ha, seed yield was 27.08-83.85 kg/ha, harvest index was 30.61-43.81 %, fixed oil ratio 25.95-38.22 % and fixed oil yield was 8.22-26.01 l/ha. Conclusion: Under Aydın conditions, Sivas-Şarkışla population showed superior characteristics in terms of seed yield and fixed oil yield and Çameli variety showed superior characteristics in terms of fixed oil ratio. Keywords: Black cumin, Nigella sativa L., Population, Çameli, Fixed oil