Volume 20, Issue 2 (3-2027)
مرتع 2027, 20(2): 0-0 |
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Imani N, Erfanzadeh R, Ahadi H, Ghelichnia H. Variation in Bioactive Compounds of Thymus fedtschenkoi in Relation to Soil Physicochemical and Microbial Properties in Baladeh Rangelands, Mazandaran Province. مرتع 2027; 20 (2)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1359-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1359-en.html
Tarbiat modares university
Abstract: (49 Views)
Abstract
Background and Objectives:
Thymus fedtschenkoi (Lamiaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant rich in phenolic compounds and widely used in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. The composition and concentration of its bioactive constituents in rangeland ecosystems are strongly influenced by ecological conditions and soil physicochemical and biological characteristics. Understanding the relationship between essential oil composition and soil properties is essential for identifying optimal habitats with maximum yield and quality. This study aimed to evaluate the association between soil properties and essential oil constituents of T. fedtschenkoi in Baladeh rangelands, Mazandaran Province, Iran.
Materials and Methods:
Three habitats (one in Kam and two in Halopooshteh rangelands) located in the Central Alborz Mountains were selected, and five sampling sites were established in each habitat. Plant and soil sampling was conducted during the flowering stage in late spring 2024. Flowering aerial parts from three randomly selected plants per site were collected for essential oil extraction using hydrodistillation. Soil samples were taken from two depths (0–5 and 5–10 cm) and analyzed for moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, texture, and basal microbial respiration. Essential oil constituents were identified and quantified using GC and GC–MS. Data were analyzed using SPSS and redundancy analysis (RDA) in R software.
Results:
Regression analysis revealed significant relationships between several essential oil components and soil properties at both depths. At 0–5 cm depth, camphene showed a positive relationship with basal microbial respiration (R² = 0.49), while α-phellandrene (R² = 0.46), thymol (R² = 0.45), and 1,8-cineole (R² = 0.49) were negatively correlated with clay content. Carvacrol (R² = 0.73) was positively associated with silt but negatively correlated with phosphorus and nitrogen. Linalool (R² = 0.85) showed positive relationships with phosphorus and basal microbial respiration and negative correlations with moisture and silt. At 5–10 cm depth, thymol (R² = 0.45) was positively correlated with sand percentage, while α-phellandrene (R² = 0.81) was positively associated with nitrogen and negatively correlated with clay and phosphorus. Other compounds, including α-thujene, α-terpinol, α-pinene, and geranyl acetate, also showed significant correlations with certain soil characteristics, whereas cinnamaldehyde and α-Humulene did not show significant relationships at either depth. RDA indicated that the first two axes (RDA1 and RDA2) explained a substantial proportion of variation in essential oil composition, with RDA1 clearly separating the Kam habitat from the two Halopooshteh habitats.
Conclusion:
The essential oil composition of T. fedtschenkoi is significantly influenced by soil physicochemical and biological properties, with depth-dependent effects. Soil texture, nutrient availability, and microbial activity play crucial roles in regulating secondary metabolite synthesis. These findings emphasize the importance of soil characteristics in identifying and managing suitable rangelands for the targeted utilization of T. fedtschenkoi with desirable essential oil quality.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/12/3 | Accepted: 2026/05/8 | Published: 2027/03/1
Received: 2025/12/3 | Accepted: 2026/05/8 | Published: 2027/03/1
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