Physiological response and secondary metabolites of three lavender genotypes under water deficit

Abstract

Lavandula genus is a considerable medicinal plant in pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Considering increasing threat of drought in the world, it is important to identify genotypes which can tolerate drought. It is also important to characterize quantity and quality of essential oils, and tolerance indicators of these genotypes against drought stress. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran, during 2017 and 2018, to investigate these factors. It was a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with two treatments, three genotypes (Lavandula angustifolia cv. Hidcote, Lavandula angustifolia cv. Munstead, and Lavandula stricta), and four levels of drought stress (irrigation regimes) (I1: 100–90% (control), I2: 80–70%, I3: 60–50% and I4: 30–40% of field capacity) which was done with three repetitions. Drought increased amount of proline in leaves, antioxidant activity, activity of catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide enzymes, malondialdehyde content, total flavonoids, total phenol, total sugar and essential oil percentage. The PCA analysis of different irrigation regimes showed that in the first component, the best traits are antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, APX, while in the second component, only the trait Catalase is the best trait. The results of PCA analysis in lavender genotypes showed that L. stricta exhibits the most affected physiological changes while trying to adjust to changes in the water status of the environment, under the imposed conditions and shows the highest resistance. But it reduced dry weight of aerial parts, relative water content of leaves, and efficacy of essential oil. Lavandula stricta genotype had the highest amount of essential oil, but the highest dry weight of the aerial parts and essential oil yield were related to L. angustifolia cv. Hidcote and L. angustifolia cv. Munstead genotypes. In all evaluated genotypes, with increasing drought stress, monoterpene compounds were decreased and sesquiterpene compounds were increased. Totally it was shown that drought effect on evaluated traits depends on genotype and nature of traits; this indicates that by choosing drought-tolerant genotypes in breeding programs, high quantity and quality of essential oil, as well as tolerance to drought stress can be achieved.

Unpacking the point of no return under drought in poplar: insight from stem diameter variation

“…This is probably due to the difference in resistance of the two species to dehydration. Indeed, poplars are species that are vulnerable to drought, while lavenders are Mediterranean species that can sustain more negative water potentials and lower RWC (Hukin et al ., 2005; Lamacque et al ., 2020; Gorgini Shabankareh et al ., 2021). This may explain as well the difference in the PLD lethal values found in poplar and in lavenders.…”

Comparative metabolomics of root-tips reveals distinct metabolic pathways conferring drought tolerance in contrasting genotypes of rice

“…Plants form phenolic molecules (or polyphenols) as one of their defense mechanisms against oxidative damage caused by desiccation [ 77 ]. Some drought-resistant genotypes may form more phenolic compounds with or without drought treatment [ 38 , 78 , 79 ]. The total content of phenolics, anthocyanins, saposides, and flavonoids in rice leaves increased after drought treatment [ 80 ].…”

Agronomic Evaluation and Chemical Characterization of Lavandula latifolia Medik. under the Semiarid Conditions of the Spanish Southeast

“…EOs are an important product of aromatic-medicinal plants (AMP), being found in exclusive families such as Alliaceae , Apiaceae , Asteraceae , Myrtaceae , Poaceae , Rutaceae , and Lamiaceae and being of outstanding value in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries [ 4 ]. It is estimated that the global market for EOs is approximately USD 7.6 billion and could reach USD 15.1 billion by the year 2026 [ 5 ].…”