Cyanobacteria: a new bioorganic fertilizer for medicinal plants, with emphasis on chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Chamomile or Matricaria chamomilla L. is one of the most important medicinal plants which grow in many parts of the world naturally. The essential oil of flower head has many therapeutic effects. In this investigation the effect of several cyanobacteria suspension (Nostoc spongiaeforme, Anabaena vaginicola, Nostoc punctiforme) on chamomile growth and essential oil was investigated. These cyanobacteria species were isolated from medicinal plants bed and then purified. Application of cyanobacterialsuspensions for pot plants were conducted every month. After three months of planting, the growth parameters of plants such as root and shoot height and fresh weight, rootand shoot dry weight, flower head diameter and weight of flowers were measured. Hydrodistilled essential oil composition of the flower heads in control and treated samples was assessed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the studied parameters compared to the control at the 0.05 level. Addition of some cyanobacterial suspensions had a positive effect on quantity as well as the quantity of some essential oil constituents

Keywords:

Essential oil , Cyanobacteria , Compositae , Medicinal plant