Influence of phosfon D and cycocel on growth and essential oil content of sage and peppermint

Foliar application of Phosfon D at 50–100 ppm stimulates the growth of Salvia officinalis (sage) and moderately retards the growth of Mentha piperita (peppermint), while increasing the essential oil yield of both species by 50–70 % Phosfon D increases the proportions of (−)-3-isothujone and (+)-3-thujone in sage oil and decreases the level of (−)-β-pinene and (+)-camphor, whereas this growth retardant increases the proportions of (+)-isomenthone and (+)-neoisomenthol in peppermint oil and decreases the level of(−)-menthone and (−)-menthoL Foliar application of Cycocel at 250–500 ppm slightly stimulates growth and essential oil formation in peppermint, and retards growth of sage with little effect on oil yield. The influence of Cycocel on sage oil composition was the opposite of that of Phosfon, with a tendency to increase the level of (−)-β-pinene and decrease the level of (−)-3-isothujone under severe stunting. The effect of Cycocel on the composition of peppermint varied with concentration. The influence of growth retardants on essential oil composition and yield are most readily explained by alterations in the levels or activities of the relevant enzymes.     

Influence of ethephon and daminozide on growth and essential oil content of peppermint and sage

Foliar application of Daminozide at 1000 ppm reduces the growth of Salvia officinalis (sage) and decreases essential oil yield, but increases both growth and essential oil yield of Mentha piperita at the same concentration. Ethephon at 250 ppm reduces the growth and essential oil yield of peppermint and slightly increases growth and essential oil content of sage. Both growth regulators markedly reduce the level of menthone and menthol in peppermint oil and increase the level of isomenthone and neoisomenthol. Both growth regulators decrease the level of camphor and increase the level of β-pinene in sage oil. Changes in essential oil composition induced by these growth regulators are most readily explained by alterations in the levels or activities of the relevant biosynthetic enzymes.     

Physiological changes and essential oil composition of clary sage (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia sclarea</Emphasis> L.) rosette leaves as affected by salinity

Since soil salinity is a widespread problem, we proposed to focus on its effect on seedling growth, mineral composition and particularly on essential oil composition known to be reliable to abiotic conditions. Clary sage seedlings were hydroponically cultivated under different salt concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl). The dry biomass and the mineral element contents were determined. The essential oils were extracted and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Results showed that growth was reduced by 42% at 75 mM. This growth decrease was accompanied by a decrease in tissue hydration and a slight restriction in K⁺ uptake, as well as an increase in Na⁺ levels. Concerning essential oil yields, the application of 25 mM NaCl increased significantly the oil yield which decreased with increasing salt concentration. Besides, the chemical composition of clary sage was found to be also strongly affected by salt treatment since each salt concentration appeared to induce a different new chemotype in clary sage essential oil.     

Influence of foliar applied cytokinins on growth and essential oil content of several members of the lamiaceae

Foliar application of the cytokinins kinetin, dipbenylurea, benzylaminopurine and zeatin at the 1–10 ppm level has a general growth promoting effect on Mentha piperita, M. spicata and Salvia officinalis, but not on M. suaveolens and Lavandula vera, grown under controlled environmental conditions. The essential oil yield of cytokinintreated plants is also increased up to two-fold on a fr. wt basis relative to untreated controls, with only a minor influence on oil composition in most cases. The increase in oil yield cannot be attributed to alteration in growth or development of the treated plants, or to changes in oil gland populations. In vitro assay of the enzymes catalysing the rate limiting steps of camphor biosynthesis in S. officinalis and of menthone biosynthesis in M. piperita indicated that the increase in oil yield under the influence of cytokinin is a result of increased monoterpene biosynthesis.     

Salinity depression of growth and essential oil formation in spearmint and marjoram and its reversal by foliar applied cytokinin

Irrigation of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and marjoram (Majorana hortensis) with a saline solution consisting of CaCl₂ and NaCl reduces overall growth, suppresses essential oil formation and alters the monoterpene composition of the resulting oil. Simultaneous foliar application of the cytokinin diphenylurea (at 10 ppm) or kinetin (at 4 ppm) largely reverses the adverse effects of salinity on both growth and essential oil production.     

Response of growth,essential oil composition,endogenous hormones and microbial activity of Mentha piperita to some organic and biofertilizers agents

The effect of organic (poultry and cattle manures) and biological (effective microorganisms, EM) fertilizers on growth, essential oil yield and its compositions, endogenous phytohormones content and antibacterial activity of peppermint plants grown in pot over 12 weeks was studied. Application of organo- and bio-fertilizers greatly affected on growth, essential oil production and other estimated parameters of peppermint plants. Slight stimulation effect was happened due to soil application of organic manures. Soil application of EM alone or in combination with organic fertilizers significantly increased growth, yield and components of essential oils, endogenous hormones of peppermint as compared to other treatments. Using disc diffusion method, the extracted oil of peppermint plants amended with organic and biofertilizers recorded the highest antibacterial activity against tested pathogenic bacteria like Klebsiella pneuumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus.     

The effect of triacontanol on micropropagation and on secretory system of Thymus mastichina

Shoot multiplication of Thymus mastichina L. was achieved on media containing 0.1 mg l^–1 6-benzyladenine and/or 0.1 mg l^–1 indole-3-butyric acid, or in hormone-free medium (control). The growth of plantlets, the production and composition of the essential oil, the density and secretory stage of glandular hairs have been evaluated in the presence and absence of growth regulators and triacontanol. We observed a positive effect of triacontanol on the growth of micropropagated plantlets using different conditions. Media with different levels of BA, IBA and TRIA resulted in no differences in the composition of the essential oil produced by plantlets. The major components of the oil were 1,8-cineole and linalool. An increase in the oil yield was observed especially when triacontanol was added to hormone-free medium. There was no correlation between changes in the oil yield and glandular hairs density, but the yield was dependent on the secretory stage of the glands.     

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria improve growth and essential oil yield in Origanum majorana L.

Effects of root colonization by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on biomass, and qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils, were determined in the aromatic crop Origanum majorana L. (sweet marjoram). PGPR strains evaluated were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Sinorhizobium meliloti, and Bradyrhizobium sp. Only P. fluorescens and Bradyrhizobium sp. showed significant increases in shoot length, shoot weight, number of leaf, number of node, and root dry weight, in comparison to control plants or plants treated with other PGPR. Essential oil yield was also significantly increased relative to non-inoculated plants, without alteration of oil composition. P. fluorescens has clear commercial potential for economic cultivation of O. majorana.     

Antioxidant capacity of sage grown on heavy metal-polluted soil

Oxidative stress response and essential oil composition of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), grown on industrially polluted soil were studied. Sage plants were grown on the soil polluted with Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and non-polluted control soil. One-year-old sage possessed a high potential for heavy metal accumulation mainly in the roots. Heavy metal pollution resulted in root and shoot dry biomass inhibition. The increased levels of hydrogen peroxide and MDA showed that the heavy metal uptake caused oxidative stress. The increase towards the control was observed in the levels of glutathione, ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, catalase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione peroxidase. Weak activities of the most enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle allowed to suppose that H₂O₂ neutralization is rather non-enzymatic than enzymatic process. Observed decline in α- and β-thujones and elevated camphor content in the sage leaves did not indicate a deterioration of the essential oil quality. Sage grown on heavy metal-polluted soil successfully accumulated cadmium, lead, and zinc, which is resulted in plant biomass inhibition, but essential oil yield and quality was not declined.     

Salt effects on the growth, mineral nutrition, essential oil yield and composition of marjoram (Origanum majorana)

The aim of this work was to investigate the growth, mineral nutrition and essential oil composition of marjoram aerial part. Seedlings were cultivated for 20 days on nutrient solution, and then transferred to hydroponic solution with different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mM). Plants were harvested after 17 days of treatment. Mineral nutrition and essential oil composition of shoots were determined. Results showed that growth, water content and development of the different organs of marjoram plant were affected just at the highest NaCl concentration (150 mM). Furthermore, salt did not seem to affect leaf area and root length but reduced the number of leaves. An increase in the total leaf surface and its thickness was observed at different NaCl concentrations. At 50 mM NaCl, sodium was primarily accumulated in roots but at 150 mM, it was strongly accumulated in leaves. However, Cl^? accumulation was lower at higher NaCl concentrations. Essential oil yield of marjoram shoots was 0.12% in the control and 0.10% at 50 mM but an important decrease was observed at 100 mM (0.05%). Thirty-three components were identified belonging to different chemical classes. In the control, the essential oil was found to be rich in trans-sabinene hydrate (47.67%), terpinen-4-ol (20.82%) and cis-sabinene hydrate (7.23%). The proportions of these main compounds were differently affected by salt.     

Influence of plant growth regulators on the growth and essential oil content of cultured Lavandula dentata plantlets

Micropropagation of L. dentata L. through shoot-tips (ca. 5 mm) was achieved successfully. Micropropagated plantlets were cultured without plant regulators in the culture medium (control) or in media containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and/or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). These plantlets were examined for their essential oil content and composition in relation to growth rate and density and secretory or postsecretory stage of glandular hairs at five weeks of culture. The growth rates of these plantlets were not always correlated with their essential oil content (0.26%–0.65% v/w). However, all cultured plantlets showed a positive correlation between oil accumulation and the percentage of glandular hairs in secretory stage. Quantitative changes in the major monoterpene components (1,8-cineole, fenchol, borneol and camphor) and sesquiterpene content of plantlet oil, were also observed in response to the effect of varying growth regulator concentration in the culture medium. The influence of this effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity of cultured plantlets is also discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Salicylic acid affects growth,essential oil and chemical compositions of thyme (Thymus daenensis Celak.) under reduced irrigation

Salicylic acid (SA) may reduce the negative impact of water deficit on growth and metabolite yield of Thymus daenensis Celak subsp. daenensis Celak. The effect of foliar application of SA and reduced irrigation on growth, oil yield, chemical components, and antibacterial and antioxidant activities of T. daenensis in field condition were investigated. Treatments comprised 0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 M SA applied to plants under normal irrigation and stressed conditions. Results indicated that irrigation regime had a significant effect on growing degree days (GDD) required to reach early and full flowering. Foliar application of SA influenced GDD from early growing stage to 50 % and full flowering, minimum radius and canopy diameter. The highest values of oil content (3.2 % v/w) and yield (14.9 g m^?2) were obtained from application of 3.0 M SA. Percentage of some chemical constituents in the essential oil extracted from the plants under stress was higher than non-stressed plants. Thymol content was significantly reduced under stressed conditions. Foliar application of SA significantly improved carvacrol, α-thujene, α-pinene and p-cymene contents in the oils, but reduced thymol and, β-caryophyllene amounts. Our results showed that foliar application of SA reduced the negative effect of water deficit on thymol content in the essential oil of T. daenensis. The essential oils of T. daenensis exhibited antioxidant and antibacterial activities when plants were sprayed with 1.5 and 3.0 M SA, respectively.     

Changes in growth,hormones levels and essential oil content of Ammi visnaga L. plants treated with some bioregulators

The effects of foliar application of different concentrations of amino acids (tyrosine and phenylalanine) and phenolic acids (trans-cinnamic acid, benzoic acid and salicylic acid) on growth, pigment content, hormones levels and essential oil content of Ammi visnaga L were carried out during two successive seasons. It is clear that foliar application of either amino acids or phenolics significantly promoted the growth parameters in terms of shoot height, fresh and dry biomass, number of branches and number of umbels per plant. The increment of growth parameter was associated with elevated levels of growth promoters (IAA, GA3, total cytokinins) and low level of ABA. The greatest increase in the previously mentioned parameters was measured in plants exposed to different concentrations of phenols particularly in benzoic acid-treated plants. Such effect was concentration dependent. All treatments led to significant increments in yield seeds and oil content. Moreover, gas liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that the main identified components of essential oil were 2,2-dimethyl butanoic acid, isobutyl isobutyrate, α-isophorone, thymol, fenchyl acetate and linalool. Phenolics and amino acid treatments resulted in qualitative differences in these components of essential oil.     

Development and Essential Oil Content of Secretory Glands of Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Scanning electron microscopy of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) leaves confirmed the presence of two basic types of glandular trichomes consisting of a capitate stalked form containing a multicellular stalk and surmounted by a unicellular secretory head, and a capitate sessile form containing a unicellular stalk and unicellular, or multicellular, secretory head. In the latter type, secretory activity and filling of the subcuticular cavity may begin at virtually any stage of the division cycle affording fully developed glands containing from one to twelve cells in the secretory head. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the oil content of the most numerous gland species (capitate stalked, capitate sessile with one and with eight secretory cells) indicated only minor quantitative differences in essential oil composition. Thus, each gland type is capable of producing the four major monoterpene families (p-menthanes, pinanes, bornanes and thujanes) characteristic of sage.     

Chemopreventive effects of sage oil on skin papillomas in mice.

Salvia libanotica (sage) extract is a popular plant remedy used by Middle Eastern people to treat common complaints such as colds and abdominal pain. In this study, the chemopreventive effects of sage oil on 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promoted skin papillomas was investigated. Furthermore, its growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects on a mouse papilloma-derived cell line (SP-1) were studied using 3H-thymidine incorporation, cell count and trypan blue dye exclusion assays. Sage oil was either applied topically to mouse skin at concentrations of 5, 50 and 100% in acetone, injected intraperitoneally at concentrations of 4 (37 mg/ml) and 8% (75 mg/ml) in saline or given by gavage at 100% twice per week for 20 weeks, 20 minutes prior to each promotion treatment with TPA. The topically applied 100% oil extract delayed tumor appearance by 4 weeks and inhibited tumor incidence and yield by 19 and 61%, respectively, at week 20. Topical application of 50% and 5% sage oil inhibited tumor yield by 41% at week 20. Tumor weight was decreased by 75% and 80% following treatment of mouse skin with 50% and 100% oil, respectively. Intraperitoneal injections and gavage treatments failed to inhibit the promotion of tumors in mouse skin, but significantly decreased tumor weight and volume. Sage oil displayed strong growth inhibitory effects on the SP-1 papilloma derived cell line following 24 hrs of treatment with estimated IC50 of 50 microg/ml. This observed growth inhibition was due to cytostatic and not cytotoxic effects. Our results suggest that the oil extract of the sage plant has potent suppressive activities against tumor promotion in mouse skin and thus could be an effective chemopreventive agent against skin cancer.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptospermum scoparium</Emphasis> (mānuka): effects on plant growth and essential oil content

Leptospermum scoparium or mānuka is a New Zealand native medicinal plant that produces essential oils with antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community in mānuka by culture dependent (trap culture) and independent (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) approaches. Furthermore, to assess whether mycorrhizal inoculation could alter growth and essential oil composition of mānuka, plants of a single regional chemotype were grown in unsterilized soil and inoculated with five AMF isolates. Leaf essential oil compositions and yields were determined by microscale solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. AMF inoculation significantly increased growth compared to uninoculated plants. Qualitative i.e. different relative proportions of compounds, which are distinctive in chemotypes and quantitative (i.e. absolute concentrations of compounds, expressed as mg/g of dry leaf or equivalent) effects of AMF inoculation on mānuka essential oil composition depended on the isolate. AMF inoculation modified the Gammaproteobacterial community on roots and this may have contributed to changes in essential oil composition. Overall, these results demonstrated that AMF can improve the growth of mānuka and affect plant secondary metabolites in leaves, which would be valuable in commercial essential oil production from plantation-grown mānuka.     

Impact of soil types on chemical composition of essential oil of purple basil

Purple basil is among the most important basil varieties and its essential oil is used for several purposes including medicinal and aromatic uses. Soil types may impact the plant growth, development, and essential oil composition. Hence, it is important to find the most suitable soil type which may produce basil plants having essential oil with the best composition and concentration. For this reason, plant samples of purple basil that were grown in areas with clay, loamy sand, and sandy-clay loam soil types were collected and evaluated to determine the changes in the yield and essential oil components. Essential oil contents were determined with the Clevenger Device, and essential oil compositions were determined by using GC and GC/MS analysis. The highest essential oil yield according to soil types was obtained from the plant samples that were grown in the loamy sand soil. It was also found that the main compounds present in Arapgir town purple basil were methylcinnamate and linalool that was also present in all Turkish purple basil under all types of soil. According to the soil types, the highest concentration (46.03%) of methylcinnamate was observed in loamy sand soils, and the lowest (42.33%) was obtained from sandy-clay loam soils and found to be significantly different. Data regarding correlations between soil types and essential oil ratios showed that organic matter and P₂O₅ had a significant negative correlation with methylcinnamate. The present study will help researchers and farmers to choose the most suitable soil type to achieve maximum essential oil production from purple basil.     

Influence of the Duration and Conditions of Storage on the Composition of the Essential Oil from Coriander Seeds

The composition of volatile components of the essential oil extracted from seeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativumL.) grown in different years in either Russia or Georgia was studied by capillary gas chromatography. Climatic conditions had a weaker effect on the essential oil composition than the region of growth. After one-year storage in the dark, minor changes were observed in the oil composition, and its organoleptic properties were virtually unchanged. However, the essential oil underwent significant chemical transformation of monoterpenes when stored in the light.     

Exogenous salicylic acid stimulates physiological and biochemical changes to improve growth, yield and active constituents of fennel essential oil

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) is a high-value medicinal and essential oil bearing plant used extensively in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. A pot experiment was carried out in the natural conditions of net house to resolve whether the foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) might enhance the growth, yield and essential oil production of fennel. Plants were sprayed three times with SA. The first spray was carried out at 40?days after sowing (DAS); the second and third sprays were applied one and 2?weeks later, the plants were sprayed with deionised water (control) and different concentrations of SA (10^?5, 10^?4 and 10^?3?M). The foliar spray of SA at 10^?4?M significantly enhanced the vegetative growth (shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights), physiological and biochemical characteristics (chl ??a??, chl ??b??, total chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, nitrate reductase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, leaf-N, -P and -K contents), yield characteristics (number of umbels and fruits, 1,000-seed weight and seed yield) and essential oil yield of fennel. GLC analysis revealed the significant increase in the components of essential oil, viz. trans-anethole (80.4?C84.7?%), methyl chavicol (2.3?C2.5?%) and fenchone (5.6?C7.9?%). It was concluded that foliar spray of SA at 10^?4?M might be employed for enhancing the plant growth as well as yield and quality of essential oil of fennel.