Articles
Phytohormone-based biostimulants improved the growth and phytochemical characteristics of oregano under heat stress
Article number
1466_71
Pages
589 – 598
Language
English
Abstract
Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is a traditional medicinal plant cultivated worldwide for its pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial activities.
It is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and bronchitis.
Heat stress significantly reduces the growth and yield of medicinal plants by restricting physiological and biochemical processes, leading to decreased biomass and metabolite production.
The application of biostimulant represents a significant advancement in agricultural practices for enhancing plant growth and productivity.
The study assessed the effect of cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens L.) leaf extract (CLE) in combination with abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) on the yield and phytochemical characteristics of oregano plants subjected to heat stress (38°C for 2 h for 7 days). Plants that were not treated were used as control.
The experiment was caried out in the tunnel (sandy clay loam soil) using a randomized complete block design during the spring season of 2025. Foliar spray treatments: CLE (5%), ABA 40 mg L‑1, GA3 40 mg L‑1, CLE + ABA 40 mg L‑1, CLE + GA3 40 mg L‑1 and CLE + ABA + GA3 40 mg L‑1 were applied at 7-day intervals during the experiment.
The combination of CLE + ABA + GA3 effectively enhanced growth, photosynthetic traits and minerals contents of heat-stressed oregano plants.
Both CLE alone or in combination with ABA and GA3 reduced lipid oxidation damage and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities.
Therefore, CLE combined with ABA + GA3 can be applied as a biostimulant to enhance the growth and biochemical composition of oregano plants under heat stress.
It is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, and bronchitis.
Heat stress significantly reduces the growth and yield of medicinal plants by restricting physiological and biochemical processes, leading to decreased biomass and metabolite production.
The application of biostimulant represents a significant advancement in agricultural practices for enhancing plant growth and productivity.
The study assessed the effect of cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens L.) leaf extract (CLE) in combination with abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) on the yield and phytochemical characteristics of oregano plants subjected to heat stress (38°C for 2 h for 7 days). Plants that were not treated were used as control.
The experiment was caried out in the tunnel (sandy clay loam soil) using a randomized complete block design during the spring season of 2025. Foliar spray treatments: CLE (5%), ABA 40 mg L‑1, GA3 40 mg L‑1, CLE + ABA 40 mg L‑1, CLE + GA3 40 mg L‑1 and CLE + ABA + GA3 40 mg L‑1 were applied at 7-day intervals during the experiment.
The combination of CLE + ABA + GA3 effectively enhanced growth, photosynthetic traits and minerals contents of heat-stressed oregano plants.
Both CLE alone or in combination with ABA and GA3 reduced lipid oxidation damage and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities.
Therefore, CLE combined with ABA + GA3 can be applied as a biostimulant to enhance the growth and biochemical composition of oregano plants under heat stress.
Publication
Authors
N.M.D. Buthelezi
Keywords
bioactive compounds, environmental stress, lipid oxidation damage, medicinal plants, plant growth hormones
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