Effects of Drought Stress on Biomass, Essential Oil Content, Nutritional Parameters, and Costs of Production in Six Lamiaceae Species

Pedro García-Caparrós,Pedro Cermeño,Alfonso Llanderal,María Lao,María Romero,María Segura

doi:10.3390/w11030573

Abstract

Lamiaceae is one of the largest families of aromatic plants and it is characterized by the presence of external glandular structures which produce essential oils highly valued in cosmetics and medicine. Plants of Lavandula latifolia, Mentha piperita, Salvia sclarea, Salvia lavandulifolia, Thymus capitatus, and Thymus mastichina were grown for one year. In order to evaluate the effects of drought stress, plants were subjected to two water treatments (100% ETo and 70% ETo, including the rainfall during the experimental period). At the end of the experiment, the biomass, the essential oil content, and leaf nutrients concentration were assessed for each water treatment and species studied. At the end of the experiment, L. latifolia, M. piperita and T. capitatus plants showed a significant fresh weight reduction under drought stress conditions whereas the other species studied remained unchanged. With respect to dry weight, only L. latifolia plants showed a reduction under water deficit conditions. As far as essential oil content was concerned, L. latifolia and S. sclarea plants had a reduction under water deficit conditions. Leaf nutrient concentration showed different trends between species considering the nutrient assessed. The economic viability of the growth of this species will be dependent on the benefits achieved which are related to yield production obtained and the price accorded for both raw material and the essential oil extracted.

Highlights

Water deficit or drought stress is considered as one of the most restrictive factors in plant growth and yield in many areas of the world with agricultural production [1]
We have focused on six species of the Lamiaceae family commonly grows in the Mediterranean region: Lavandula latifolia, Mentha piperita, Salvia lavandulifolia, Salvia sclarea, Thymus capitatus and Thymus mastichina
Drought stress reduced the fresh weight in L. latifolia, M. piperita, and T. capitatus, whereas

Summary

Introduction

Water deficit or drought stress is considered as one of the most restrictive factors in plant growth and yield in many areas of the world with agricultural production [1]. Drought stress generates changes at physiological and metabolic levels such as stomatal closure and reduction in photosynthesis rate and crops growth [3]. Under these adverse conditions, the amount of oxidized reduction equivalents (NADP+ ) working as electron acceptors is reduced. The Lamiaceae (Labiateae) plant family is considered one of the largest families among the dicotyledons with more than 240 genera. This family is highly valued in terms of cosmetic and medicinal value due to the presence of external glandular structures that produce volatile oil [7]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion