Influence of zinc element on chemical composition of essential oil in Satureja bakhtiarica at different phenological stages

The genus Satureja belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Satureja bakhtiarica essential oil contains high amounts of phenolic compounds and has high antioxidant capacity and also includes monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. In order to evaluate the effect of zinc element, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of leaf spraying with zinc chelate (0, 200, 400 and 600 ppm). The main components of the aerial parts essential oil of the control plants in blooming belonged to Carvacrol (61.8%), β-Cymene (24.93%) and α-Terpinen (7.74%). The main components of the plant treated with zinc element at flowering stage in the concentration of 200 ppm, including Carvacrol (63%), p- Cymene (24.23%) and γ-Terpinen (7.34%) ; in 400 ppm containing β- Carvacrol (67.69%), Cymene (18.67%) & α- Terpinene (3.44%) and in 600 ppm containing Carvacrol (56.88%), β-Cymen (28.42%) , and α-Terpinene (5.23%) . Compared to the control, in vegetative stage the levels of Carvacrol (57.9%), p-Cymene (29.62%) and γ-Terpinen (8.84%) significantly increased in plants treated with 200 ppm zinc concentration; the levels of Carvacrol (58.17%), β-Cymene (27.84%) and α-Terpinene (7.8%) significantly increased in plants treated with 400 ppm zinc concentration. The content of Carvacrol (55.04%), β-Cymen (28.42%) and α-Terpinene (10.03%) significantly increased in plants treated with 600 ppm zinc concentration. Compared to the control, an increase in content of carvacrol at flowering stage with all zinc treatments was observed. Content of p-Cymene and α-Terpinene has been increased at vegetative stage in plants treated with application of all zinc treatments; whereas, the content of carvacrol has been decreased.

Keywords:

Satureja bakhtiarica , Carvacrol , β-Cymene , Zn