Efficiency of <i>Funneliformis mosseae</i> and <i>Thiobacillus</i> sp. on the secondary metabolites (essential oil, seed oil and mucilage) of <i>Lallemantia iberica</i> under salinity stress
Shabnam Heydari, Alireza Pirzad
Abstract
Dragon’s head (Lallemantia iberica Fisch. & Mey), annual herb from the Lamiaceae family, is worldwide distributed. Lallemantia is a medicinal plant with a variety of uses, and all of its parts have economic applications, including leaves to extract essential oils, mucilage and oil for different purposes in food and medicine. This study evaluated the effects of inoculants (single and dual application of Funneliformis mosseae and/or Thiobacillus sp.) on the secondary metabolites of Lallemantia iberica under saline (6.72 dS/m) and non-saline conditions. The results indicated an increase in the percentage of essential and seed oils, along with a decrease in mucilage percentage and their yields under stress. Salinity increased the unsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated/saturated fatty acids, as well as the main components of the essential oil. However, the mucilage constituents were reduced by salt stress. Furthermore, mycorrhizal plants exhibited positively incremental effects on the components of secondary metabolites under salinity conditions. In some cases, the individual treatment of Thiobacillus had a greater effect on some fatty acids. In general, mycorrhiza and Thiobacillus can improve the yield and quality of secondary metabolites and thus compensate for the part of yield reduction in saline soil conditions.