Pilot Cultivation of the Local Endemic Cretan Marjoram <i>Origanum microphyllum</i> (Benth.) Vogel (Lamiaceae): Effect of Fertilizers on Growth and Herbal Quality Features
Dimitrios Fanourakis,
Konstantinos Paschalidis,
Georgios Tsaniklidis,
Vasileios A. Tzanakakis,
Fotis Bilias,
Eftihia Samara,
Eleftheria Liapaki,
Manal Jouini,
Ioannis Ipsilantis,
Eleni Maloupa,
Georgios Tsoktouridis,
Theodora Matsi,
Nikos Krigas
Affiliations
Dimitrios Fanourakis
Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment, Specialization of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Agriculture, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Konstantinos Paschalidis
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Georgios Tsaniklidis
Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 73134 Chania, Greece
Vasileios A. Tzanakakis
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 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
Eleftheria Liapaki
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Manal Jouini
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Ioannis Ipsilantis
Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleni Maloupa
Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Tsoktouridis
Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, 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, P.O. Box 60458, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Wild phytogenetic resources are threatened by overexploitation. This pressure on species and natural ecosystems can be alleviated in part by recruiting and domesticating wild-growing species under pilot cultivation with tailor-made fertilization schemes. This study focused on the pilot cultivation of Origanum microphyllum—a critically endangered local endemic plant of Crete, Greece—investigating the effect of conventional and integrated nutrient management (ΙΝΜ) fertilizers by foliar or root application and biostimulant. Above-ground biomass together with leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and color (SPAD meter, DA meter, Chroma Meter) were determined. Leaf chlorophyll, antioxidant compound (carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids), and nutrient contents were also assessed. The results showed that fertilization did not significantly affect plant growth and leaf nutrient content. Root fertilization was associated with greener leaves compared to foliar. The same trend was generally evident for antioxidant compound content. The small size of leaves may have impeded the efficiency of the foliar application. In conclusion, root application of conventional or INM fertilizers seems more suitable to promote visual quality and herbal antioxidant profile of O. microphyllum, than the foliar one.
