Effect of salicylic acid and putrescine on growth and essential oil compounds of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.)

In order to investigate the effect of salicylic acid and putrescine as foliar spray on plant yield and growth، essential oil yield and composition of summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.)، a field experiment was carried out based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD)، with three replication. Different concentrations of salicylic acid (0، 1، 2 and 3mM) and putrescine (0، 0. 5، 1، 1. 5 and 2mM) were applied as foliar spray at early stages of shooting، blooming and floweing. Results showed that foliar application of salicylic acid and putrescine had significant effect (p<0. 01) on some vegetative parameters such as dry weight and yield of total aerial shoots، leaves and inflorescences as well as total chlorophyll concentration. All treatments had a significant effect (p<0. 01) onessential oil efficiency، percentage، yield and composition of Satureja hortensis. The highest value of total aerial shoots dry weight (45. 63g/p)، total aerial shoots yield (5070kg/ha)، leaf dry weight (6. 39g/p)، leaf yield (710kg/ha)، inflorescence dry weight (15/65g/p)، inflorescence yield (1739kg/ha)، and total chlorophyll concentration (1. 46mg/l) were observed in 3mM salicylic acid. The essential oil efficiency (2. 35kg/ha) and essential oil yield (76. 76%) reached a maximum range in 1. 5mm putrescine. The concentration of thymol (47. 76%) as the main volatile component of summer savory، reached the highest value in 2mM salicylic acid while other components، such as α-pinene، limonene and E-B-ocimene، reached the highest value in 50mg/L putrescine.