Author: آمنه غلامی 
Astragalus abharensis Maassoumi &Podlech
Parvin Salehi Shanjani, Hamideh Javadi, Masoumeh Ramezani Yeganeh and Mohammad Mahmoodi
Natural Resources Gene Bank, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran.
Uploaded at December 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 have physical-physiological dormancy and this is related to seed coat and inhibitors. To remove the seed coat, different methods of scarification can be used (sandpaper, sulfuric acid, hot water, etc.). To break dormancy, stratification with pre-chilling (for 14 days), ultrasonic waves, and hormones (Gibberellic acid 100 ppm) are efficient. The best method for breaking dormancy is rubbing the seeds with sandpaper and moist chilling (14 days at 4 °C). Then germinate under a constant temperature of 20 ºC or alternating temperature 25 ºC (16 hours of light) and 15 ºC (8 hours of dark).
Morphology
Fruit type: Pod
Fruit shape: Inversly bilocular, linear, straight or curved upward, ventral side boat-like, dorsal side prominent, stalkless, to apex narrowed, beaked
Fruit size: Length 23, width 3 mm, thickness 5 mm, beak length 2 mm
Seed shape: Asymmetrical, cordiform or reniform, sometimes lateral compressed, slight flattish, hilum sunken, rounded, with pale surrounding. Surface wrinkled, glabrous, slight lustrous, dark brown
Seed size: Length 2.76 to 3.79 mm, width 1.71 to 2.64 mm in an accession from Zanjanrod, Zanjan, with 1000 seeds weight 6 g, which was collected and identified in 2007 by Mohammad Mahmoodi, and is stored in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran with an accession number 47705.
Average 1000 seed weight: 6 g
Biological features
Life form: Herbaceous, perennial, pubescent. Stemless, height 15 to 18 cm
Inflorescence, flower type, and pollination mechanism: Inflorescence raceme, many-flowered, flowers hermaphrodite, zygomorphic, papilionaceous, corolla (composed of banner: upper large petal, wings: two petals adjacent to the banner, and keel: two bottom petals) yellow, wings longer than the keel. Plant monoecious, cross-pollinated. Pollination is carried out by insects and wind.
Time of flowering: Late spring
Time of seed ripening: Late spring
Seed dispersal methods: Seed weight and animals
Geographical distribution: Endemic to Iran. Typus from Zanjan
Distribution in Iran: North West. Mostly in Azerbaijan province
Taxonomy
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Astragalus
Species: A. abharensis
Persian name: Gavan-e abhari
References and Links
Black, M. and Bewley, J.D. 2000. Seed technology and its biological basis. Sheffield Academic Press, 1-419 pp.
Bojnansky, V. and Fargasova, 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.
Maassoumi, A.A. 2018. Flora of Iran, Fabaceae (Astragalus III). Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, Iran, Publication No. 145, 52 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 Delh
