Effect of Drought Stress on Total Protein, Essential Oil Content, and Physiological Traits of Levisticum Officinale Koch

Levisticum officinale Koch is one of the most important plants producing essential oil. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of drought stress on growth, total protein and essential oil content of Levisticum officinale. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design using 5 replications. Aridity levels of field capacity irrigation (as control), −0.6 and −1.0 MPa were applied. There was significant effect of aridity on leaf area in Levisticum officinale. The highest leaf area values were found in the lowest aridity (FC) level. The root weight and root length in the −0.6 MPa aridity level were more than that of the control aridity level, but, shoot height and shoot weight were highest in the control treatment. Total soluble protein contents under −0.6 MPa drought stress was numerically lower than that in the control treatment, but statistically there was no significant difference between protein contents in the −0.6 MPa and the control treatment. Compared to the control treatment, total soluble protein contents of Levisticum officinale were significantly decreased in the −1.0 MPa drought treatment. Essential oil content of Levisticum officinale was significantly increased in the −0.6 MPa drought treatment compared to the control. Compared to control treatment, there was a significant reduction found in essential oil content of Levisticum officinale in the −1.0 MPa aridity treatment. The results suggest that in the drought levels between −0.6 to −1.0 MPa, Levisticum officinale could be used for arid and semi-arid lands economical use.