Study the effect of intercropping and chemical fertilizers on essential oil, phenolic and flavonoid contents and some biological properties of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.)
Subject Areas : Phytochemistry
Farhad Habibzadeh
1
,
Behvar Asghari
2
1 - Departmet of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
2 - Departmet of Horticultural engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Intercropping, Hyssop, Phenolic content, Essential oil,
Abstract :
In order to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) production, an investigation was conducted in the research farm of Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran, in 2016. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications. The experimental factors consisted of different planting patterns (factor A) on two levels including sole culture of hyssop and additive intercropping of 100% hyssop + 50% lentil and application of chemical fertilizers (factor B) on two levels including non-application and application of NPK. Essential oil (distillation with clevenger), nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents, extract of plant (maceration method), phenolic and flavonoid contents (colorimetric method), DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant activity of vegetative parts of the plant at the beginning of flowering stage were evaluated. The results exhibited that all the traits, except for extract content, were significantly affected by the treatments. Oil yield, phenolic and flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity were significantly stronger in intercropping + fertilizer application compared to the other treatments. In the other hand, intercropping enhanced the phenolic and flavonoid compounds, essential oil and extract yield of hyssop. Secondary metabolites, such as phenolic, flavonoid, and essential oil, are the defense system of plant, which were increased by competition between hyssop and lentil (as a stressor). Antioxidant properties also increased due to the increase in phenolic and flavonoids content.
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