Variability, association and path analysis of centellosides and agro-morphological characteristics in Iranian Centella asiatica (L.) Urban ecotypes

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Apiaceae) is a commercial medicinal plant, which is rich in pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) named centellosides including asiaticoside and madecassoside as triterpene saponins in addition to their corresponding sapogenins (asiatic acid and madecassic acid). These are well-known bioactive compounds in C. asiatica due to their extensive applications in medicinal and cosmetic industries. In the present study, variability and association of agro-morphological and phytochemical traits in the three Iranian C. asiatica ecotypes were studied to select the best ecotype for further domestication, breeding, and commercial exploitation programs. Among the studied samples, Aziz-Kian showed the highest content of the total PTs, asiaticoside, and madecassoside. The highest leaf length, leaf width, and content of PTs especially asiatic acid were determined in Abkenar ecotype. The highest correlation (0.99) was obtained between asiaticoside and madecassoside. Internode length, leaf length, petiole diameter, petiole length, root diameter, and root length were significantly correlated with total PTs. Cluster analysis based on phytochemical and phenotypical data allocated ecotypes into three different groups. Principle component analysis revealed that leaf length, leaf width, petiole diameter, petiole length, root per node, and asiatic acid had the highest contribution in classifi-cation. The studied samples were divided into two distinct chemotypes including I (asiaticoside and madecassoside) and II (asiatic acid and madecassic acid). Based on path analysis, internode length, root diameter, and leaf length can be highly recommended for the plant breeding purposes. These findings can be considered in further breeding programs to release high-yielding cultivar of C. asiatica rich in centellosides. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of SAAB.