Study of growth, yield and essential oil composition in two medicinal species, Nepeta kotschyi var. persica and N. glomerulosa

Two species of Nepeta genus, N. kotschyi var. persica and N. glomerulosa, are native medicinal plants of Iran, containing medicinal compositions such as Nepetalactones. This study was conducted for plant domestication under field condition during years 2017 and 2018. The experiment was carried out under completely randomized block design with three replications. Morphological and yield traits besides essential oil content and composition were measured. Results showed that total fresh and dry weight in N. kotshyi (9954 and 3152 kg ha-1, respectively), were higher than N. glomerulosa (2858 and 990 kg ha-1, respectively). Essential oil content and yield in N. kotschyi were 2.12% and 48.35 kg ha-1, respectively, while these traits in N. glomerulosa were 1.42% and 7.39 kg ha-1, respectively. Essential oil composition analysis determined that the sum of Nepetalactone isomers in N. kotschyi were higher than N. glomerulosa, 94.57% and 38.68%, respectively. On the whole, according to the aerial parts and essential oil yield, and Nepetalactone content in the oil, the N. kotschyi var. persica showed the higher performance, though, in order to produce Nepetalactone for medicinal industries, N. kotschyi var. persica cultivation is recommended under similar field condition.