Influence of chitosan concentration on morpho-physiological traits, essential oil and phenolic content under different fertilizers application in Thymus daenensis

Abstract

<strong>Background & Aim:</strong><em> Thymus daenensis</em> is recognized as aromatic herbs, which used in food, flavoring, pharmaceutical, and perfumery industries. This study was conducted to investigate the response of <em>T.daenensis</em> to different fertilizers (chemical and organic) along with chitosan. <strong>Experimental: </strong> Treatments consisted of different fertilizers including: F1 =C (control without manure and fertilizer); F2 = CF (chemical fertilizers 100-150-100 kg ha⁻¹NPK, respectively), F3= CM (cow manure, 20 tonha⁻¹), F4= VC (vermicompost, 10 tonha⁻¹), F5=CF+CM+VC (chemical fertilizers + cow manure + vermicompost) and three chitosan levels (0, 0.2%, 0.4%) and acetic acid. This experiment conducted in split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications during the period from 2014 to 2015 in Shahrekord, Iran. Morphological traits, essential oil yield from aerial parts and phenolic content were studied. <br/><strong>Results: </strong> Results indicated that canopy diameter, lateral branches, number of flower and leaf area index increased by CF+CM+VC treatment as compared to the control in 2014 and 2015. Chitosan increased biomass yield in both of growing year. Phenolic content increased in CF+CM+VC treatment in 2015 and it was also affected by application of 0.4% chitosan. <strong>Recommended applications/industries: </strong> Since essential oil of <em>T. daenensis</em>, especially thymol and carvacrol, have a lot of applications in pharmacological and also has antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, the use of integrated fertilizer along with chitosan as a elicitor is recommended to obtain more essential oil yield and phenolic content.