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IDENTIFICATION, PRESERVATION, ADAPTATION AND CULTIVATION OF SELECTED AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL PLANTS SUITABLE FOR MARGINAL LANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Objetivo


The major objective was to select plants with high essential oil yield or desirable essential oil composition. The investigation concentrated on the Mediterranean endemic species Salvia fruticosa Mill., Origanum vulgare L. subspecies hirtum letswaart, Satureja thymbra L. and Coridothymus capitatus Reichenb.

The high variation which was observed in almost all essential oil features denoted that there is a high variability among and within populations. The seasonal variation indicated the optimum harvesting time for desirable essential oil yield and composition. The latitudinal, logitudinal and altitudinal variation indicated that certain environmental conditions may favour certain essential oil characteristics.

Commercially desirable cultivars suitable for marginal lands have been selected to be used as alternative crops. The performance of each species under standard cultivation conditions was evaluated while the effect of different levels of nitrogenous fertilizer was examined. Growth, nutrient uptake and essential oil yield and composition at various levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were investigated in soilless culture. The ecophysiological aspects of seed germination, seed quality and seed preservation methods were studied.

A herbarium has been established in Chania which studies the flora of Crete. The traditional knowledge om aromatic and medicinal plants in Crete, which has unveiled valuable information, however is threatened by extinction.
The investigation will focus on the production of commercially significant secondary metabolites (essential oils, alkaloids, glycosides) from some aromatic [Salvia fruticosa Miller (syn. S. triloba), Origanum vulgare L. ssp. birtum (Link) Ietswaart ("Q. heraclioticum" senso), Satureja thymbra L. and Coridothymus capitatus (L.) Roichenb. (syn. Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns & Link] and a medicinal plant species [Solanum nigrum L.]. Additionally, the study attempts to identify environments and genetic factors that may affect plant growth as well as yield and composition of these metabolites. The best essential oil producers will be selected for their adaptation to marginal lands, in order to substitute surplus crops.

The initial sampling includes a large variety of plant populations from the above species, in order to identify the effect of the site parameters (altitude, geographical latitude, exposure and soil pH) on essential oil yield and composition. Subsequently, clonal material as well as distinguished plant chemotypes will be subjected to treatments of varying light, temperature, water and nutrient availability and herbivory. Soil-less cultivation, cultivation in pots and in marginal lands with various spacings will be practised. The study also includes acophysiological studies on reproductive biology, seed disporsal and germination as well as on methods of vegetative propagation. The final selection will test the suitability of the most promising clones in marginal lands; the selected will be made available for cultivation in the Mediterranean basin.

Identification and preservation of the genetic material encountered during this project includes the establishment of a seed bank and a herbarium of Cretan endemic, aromatic and medicinal plants in the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh).

Tema(s)

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Coordinador

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC STUDIES - MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC INSTITUTE OF CHANIA
Aportación de la UE
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Dirección
ALSYLLION AGROKEPION 85
73100 HANIA
Grecia

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Participantes (4)