Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Fatemeh MalekMaleki ¹
• Nosrat Abbasi ²
• Ebrahim Sharifi Ashourabadi ³
• Mohammad Javad Zare ⁴
• Mehrshad Barary ⁵

¹ Ph.D. Graduate of Crop Ecology, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

³ Associate Prof., Medicinal Plants Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands/ Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

⁴ Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Iran

⁵ Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Iran

Abstract

 
Abstract
Introduction
Among all major genera and species in the mint family, different types of organic compounds or metabolites such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, ascorbates, and carotenoids with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects are produced by means of metabolic processes. Research studies in this field have established that planting distance can have a significant effect on essential oil yield as well as the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. The main purpose of spacing between plants is also to provide a suitable mix of environmental factors (i.e. water, climate, light, and soil) to achieve optimum quality performance.
 
Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted using a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at Ilam University Research Farm, Iran, during 2016-2017. Planting density treatments at three levels (i.e., 20, 14, and 10 plants per m²) were determined based on changes in plant spacing on rows (i.e., three distances of 20, 30, and 45 cm). Two ecotypes were accordingly included: Malekshahi and Sumar. The characteristics measured were photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a/b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid), total phenol and flavonoid content, anthocyanin, as well as essential oil content and yield.
 
Results and Discussion
The results of this experiment revealed that the amount of antioxidant compound, photosynthetic pigments (i.e., chlorophyll a/b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid), anthocyanin, and essential oil yield had been significantly affected by ecotype and plant density. Therefore, the highest amounts of total phenol (91.64 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid (5.20 mg QUE/ g DW) were observed at 20 and 30 cm row spacing. Total phenol and flavonoid also decreased by 7.2% and 12% as plant density was reduced. Moreover, row spacing of 30 cm increased the amount of chlorophyll a/b by 14 to 16% and carotenoid by 10%. The highest amount of anthocyanin (2.5 μg/g FW) was noticed at 20 cm row spacing. In the same vein, the highest yield of the essential oil was spotted at 20 cm row spacing (91.38 kg/ha) and for Malekshahi ecotype (87.5 kg/ha). Compared with the Sumar ecotype, the Malikshahi had higher content of photosynthetic pigments, total phenol and flavonoid, carotenoid, anthocyanin, as well as essential oil yield content and yield. Growth, quantity, and quality of medicinal plants are controlled by genetic processes as well as environmental and agronomic factors such as plant density. As plant density is enhanced to an optimum level, competition increases for absorption of water, nutrients, and quantity and quality of light received by leaves due to branching density and moderated penetration into canopy. As a result, the rate of cell division and leaf area development reduces and the content of photosynthetic pigments is diminished following the destruction of chloroplast structure and inhibition of biosynthesis of new chlorophylls. On the other hand, secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanin develope in the plant in response to environmental conditions in order to protect it against environmental stresses through suppressing oxygen free radicals. In line with the results of the related literature, it was observed that the content of photosynthetic pigments had diminished after increasing the density to 20 plants per m², but the content of carotenoid, anthocyanin, total phenol and flavonoid, as well as the essential oil yield had improved in the wild thyme (Thymbra spicata L.).
 
Conclusion
The results revealed that the leaves of the plant have good amounts of essential oils, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Since the highest percentage and yield of essential oil, phenol, flavonoids, and anthocyanins were observed in the treatment of density of 20 plants per square meter and Malikshahi ecotype, this level of density and Malikshahi ecotype is introduced for production and review in breeding programs.
 

Keywords

• Anthocyanin
• Carotenoids
• Chlorophyll
• Flavonoids
• Total phenol

Main Subjects

• H: Medicinal Aromatic Plants