Author: آمنه غلامی 
Cuminum cyminum L.
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Bahare Afsharnezhad and Ali Akbar Ameri
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at July 2024
Scientific editor: Mohammad Dadmand
Seed Storage
The storage behavior of this species is orthodox (desiccation-tolerant seeds), dry to 15-20% eRH, and store at -20°C.
Germination requirements
The seeds of this species are not dormant. Sterilize seeds before placing them on wet germination paper. Place seeds for 2 weeks at 4 ºC to germinate uniformly. Then germinate under an alternating temperature regime of 15/20 ºC (the higher temperature for 16 hours in light and the lower one for eight hours in dark).
Morphology
Fruit type: Schizocarp (schizocarp is an indehiscent dry fruit that consists of two not compressed or compressed lattraly/dorsally carpels called mericarp)
Fruit shape: Mericarps narrow ellipsoid, slightly compressed laterally, ventral side concave with visible vittae, dorsal side convex with 10 ribs (five primary and five secondary). Surface valleculae, pubescent, lusterless, dark-brown, ribs cream color
Fruit size: Length 4.37 to 6.52 mm, width 1.31 to 1.86 mm in an accession from Bojnurd, North Khorasan with 1000 seed/fruit weight 4.1 g, which was collected and identified in 2012 by Ali Akbar Ameri and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with the accession number of 40766.
Average 1000 seed/fruit weight: 3 to 8.25 g
Biological features
Life form: Annual, herbaceous, delicate, glabrous. Stems erect, 15 to 30 cm height
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence simple umbel, with 3 to 6 rays, 5 to 10 mm in long; flowers zygomorphic, red. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Spring
Time of seed ripening: Late spring to early summer
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight
Geographical distribution: It is cultivated in many parts of the world. Typus from Egypt
Distribution in Iran: Center. Mostly in provinces Tehran, Isfahan and Yazd
Taxonomy
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Cuminum
Species: C. cyminum
Common name: Cumin
Persian name: Zireh-e sabz
References and Links
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 pp.
Bojňanský, V. and Fargašová, A. 2007. Atlas of seeds and fruits of central and East-European flora: the Carpathian Mountains region. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1046 pp.
Ghahraman, A. Flore of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands with University of Tehran Publication. https://floraofiran.net/index.php.
Mozaffarian V. 2007. Flora of Iran, No. 54: Umbelliferae. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, 596 pp.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 1998. Dictionary of Iranian plants names. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 671 pp.
Mozaffarian, V.A. 2012. A Pictorial dictionary of botany. Farhange Moaser Publisher, Tehran, 1088 pp.
Sharma, O.P. 2009. Plant taxonomy 2E. Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi, 563 pp.
