Effects of climate and soil properties on phytochemical characteristics of Ferulago angulate (Schltdl.) Boiss

This research investigated the effects of climate and soil on the content and components of essential oils in Ferulago angulate (Schltdl.) Boiss, belonging to the Apiaceae family. Aerial parts of plants were collected from three elevations (2500, 3000, and 3500 m above sea level) and three regions (Kallar Mountain from Boroujen, Mili Mountain from Koohrang, and Saldaran Mountain in Farsan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province) with three replications. Results suggested that soil and climatic conditions had significant effects on the quantitative and qualitative properties of essential oils. The highest (0.65%) and the lowest (0.15%) levels of essential oils were obtained from elevation of Mountain Kallar (3000 m) and Mili Mountain (3500 m), respectively. Forty-four compounds were detected most of them being alpha-pinene, alpha-thujene, alpha-phellandrene, cis-ocimene, beta-phellandrene, beta ocimene, and nonadecane. As for regional variations, most of alpha-pinene (20.88%), betaocimene (6.8%), cis-ocimene (23.6%) were recorded in the elevation of 3000 m from Saldaran Mountain and alpha-thujene (10.14%), alpha-phellandrene (3.49%), nonadecane (5.01%), and beta-phellandrene (7.57%) were obtained in the elevation of 3000 m from Kallar Mountain in clay loam soil texture. The lowest values were obtained from elevations of 3500 m in each region especially in sandy clay soil texture in Mili Mountain. It seems that the greater amount of nutrients was due to the presence of clay-loam texture, and the less environmental stresses and desirable soil enrichment in this elevation led to an increase in the essential oils content and components of this plant.