Influence of Artificial Shading and SiO2 on Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana’s Ability to Survive under Water Stress

Abstract

Medicinal plants are crucial for developing new medicines; the Agastache mexicana subspecies mexicana (Amm) or “toronjil morado” is considered an at-risk plant because of its inability to grow outside of its natural habitat. This research aims to measure the response of Amm to achieve survival with low nutrient levels and water stress, supported by different dioxide silicon (SiO2) (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) and artificial shading (AS) levels (38, 87, and 94%). Applying AS and SiO2 supported gradual tolerance to the effects of both waterlogging and drought stresses. The survival values were statistically significant in the interaction and simple analysis of SiO2 and AS, where p = 0.0001. The highest survival percentage (SP) value was SP = 91.3% for treatment number six (τ6), where AS = 94% and SiO2 = 0.2%. Additionally, the index of survival efficiency under water stress (SIef) was calculated, with the highest value being SIef = 0.062 for the hypothetical interaction of AS = 94% and SiO2 = 0.4. Research has shown that applying both SiO2 and a high level of AS can guarantee the survival of Amm under water stress.