Paper Details

PJB-2025-113

Investigation of the effects of humic acid and salt stress on essential oil content and composition in Artemisia dracunculus L. (Tarragon)

Serhat Seven and Şener Akinci
Abstract

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In this study, the ameliorative roles of leonardite-derived liquid humic acid (HA) on growth parameters and essential oil yield and constituents of Artemisia dracunculus L. under salinity stress were examined. Salt stress, which is caused by the accumulation of salts in the rhizosphere after the evaporation of water in the soil due to reasons such as high temperature, is one of the most important abiotic stress factors that negatively affect plants in all aspects. Humic acids are natural substances that can alleviate the effects of abiotic stress factors on plants by making the soil suitable for plant survival in all aspects.

Salt stress caused a significant decrease in measured growth parameters (plant height, fresh weight of leaves and stems, dry weight of leaves and stems, number of leaves and leaf area). HA had a positive effect on growth parameters at 75 mM NaCl concentration, except for leaf number, but its effect was limited at 150 mM NaCl concentration.

Salt stress caused a significant decrease in measured growth parameters (plant height, fresh weight of leaves and stems, dry weight of leaves and stems, number of leaves and leaf area). HA had a positive effect on growth parameters at 75 mM NaCl concentration, except for leaf number, but its effect was limited at 150 mM NaCl concentration.

Essential oil yields (%) increased at 75 and 150 mM NaCl concentrations compared to humic acid treated groups. A total of 24 essential oil components were detected in the essential oil at ratios of 0.5% and above. The predominant components are elemycin, isoelemycin, methyl eugenol, phytol and sabinene. The relative percentages of the components differed between all experimental groups.

To Cite this article: Seven, S. and Ş. Akinci. 2026. Investigation of the effects of humic acid and salt stress on essential oil content and composition in Artemisia dracunculus L. (Tarragon). Pak. J. Bot., 58(5): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-5(7)  
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