Effects of exogenous salicylic acid on growth factors and quality and quantity of essential oil in Satureja hortensis L.

Satureja hortensis L. (Savory), belonging to the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) is an annual herb. In order to determine the effects of salicylic acid (SA) (Control, 200, 4oo and 600mgL-1) in early flowering stage on  growth and components of essential oils of Satureja hortensis, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was carried out with three replications. The oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The fresh weight was significantly increased in 200 mgL-1 SA, compared to the control. The yield of essential oil was 3.1% (Control) and 3.7% (200 mgL-1) with a significant difference. The main constituents of the essential oil were carvacrol, γ-terpinene, α-terpinene and p-cymene. SA application increased α-terpinene from 4.35% (Control) to 7.7% (200 mgL-1), β-myrcene from 2.5 (Control) to 4.3 (200 mgL-1), p-cymene from 1.9% (Control) to 2.5% (600 mgL-1) and decreased carvacrol from 44.8% (Control) to 38.5% (200 mgL-1). Results showed that SA application caused changes in the quantity and quality of essential oils.