YIELD AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.) POPULATIONS COLLECTED FROM REGIONS UNDER DIFFERENT ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

This study aimed to reveal the effect of different genotypes (population and variety) on yield, yield components and quality parameters of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). The experiment was carried out in the Aegean Region of Turkey in two vegetation seasons of 2017 and 2018. In the study, four black cumin populations (U?ak, Hatay, Diyarbakir and Burdur) obtained from Turkey?s different regions as well as ?ameli variety were used. The plant materials had been cultivated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences among genotypes in terms of all parameters examined except for fixed oil ratio. The mean seed yield varied between 0.34-0.86 t ha-1 in 2017 and 0.10-0.31 t ha-1 in 2018. The seed and fixed oil yields were higher for ?ameli, Hatay and Diyarbakir genotypes. The percentages of linoleic and oleic acid of genotypes varied in a range of 55.85-57.67% and 21.05-22.59%, respectively. There was no significant difference among genotypes in terms of linoleic acid content. However, a significant difference was found among genotypes in terms of oleic acid content and the oleic acid content was higher in the black cumin populations than the ?ameli variety.