Pilot Cultivation of the Vulnerable Cretan Endemic Verbascum arcturus L. (Scrophulariaceae): Effect of Fertilization on Growth and Quality Features

Konstantinos Paschalidis, Dimitrios Fanourakis, Georgios Tsaniklidis, Vasileios A. Tzanakakis, Fotis Bilias, Eftihia Samara, Konstantinos Kalogiannakis, Faten Jamel Debouba, Ioannis Ipsilantis, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Theodora Matsi and Nikos Krigas
Additional contact information
Konstantinos Paschalidis: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Dimitrios Fanourakis: Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Georgios Tsaniklidis: Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, 71003 Chania, Greece
Vasileios A. Tzanakakis: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Fotis Bilias: Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eftihia Samara: Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantinos Kalogiannakis: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Faten Jamel Debouba: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Ioannis Ipsilantis: Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Tsoktouridis: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Theodora Matsi: Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Nikos Krigas: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: The domestication of wild-growing plants, including cultivation and fertilization protocols, is able to alleviate the ecological risks posed by the uncontrolled harvesting of range-restricted local endemic plants. In this field study focused on Verbascum arcturus , a vulnerable local endemic of Crete (Greece), the effect of two kinds of fertilization applied by two methods (foliar/root) was investigated. The foliar application included conventional or integrated nutrient management (INM) fertilization. Root application included the application of conventional fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Several properties of plant growth, physiology and nutrition were determined. The results showed that fertilization treatment affected neither leaf color and shape nor plant growth, morphology, dry mass partitioning or nutrient content. However, both kinds of foliar-applied fertilization enhanced Zn and B in leaves and soil-applied biostimulant increased leaf Ca. Considering both chlorophyll and antioxidant compounds’ content, foliar application of the INM fertilizers, as well as soil application of the conventional fertilizers or biostimulants, could be considered as accepted options. This study reports for the first time an assessment of the total phenolic and flavonoids content evidenced in V. arcturus and encourages the use of fertilization in promoting the herbal antioxidant profile without compromising visual quality or yield. The findings of this study could be considered as a documented contribution toward the sustainable exploitation of V. arcturus .

Keywords: antioxidant; carotenoids; flavonoids; herbal quality; medicinal plant; phenols; plant nutrition; biostimulants; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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