Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels

Abstract Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant the active biologically compounds in particular essential oil is used as raw material in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. The impacts of the foliar spraying of chitosan (control and 2.5 g/L chit...

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Main Authors: Farnaz Rezaei-Adl, Abdolah Ghasemi Pirbalouti, Touraj Rahimi, Faezeh Rajabzadeh, Hamid Mozafari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04308-6
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author Farnaz Rezaei-Adl
Abdolah Ghasemi Pirbalouti
Touraj Rahimi
Faezeh Rajabzadeh
Hamid Mozafari
author_facet Farnaz Rezaei-Adl
Abdolah Ghasemi Pirbalouti
Touraj Rahimi
Faezeh Rajabzadeh
Hamid Mozafari
author_sort Farnaz Rezaei-Adl
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant the active biologically compounds in particular essential oil is used as raw material in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. The impacts of the foliar spraying of chitosan (control and 2.5 g/L chitosan), the use of soil-based biochar (control and soil application at 2.0 kg/m2) under three moisture levels (irrigation at 80–85%, 60–65%, and 40–45% F.C.) on the agronomic traits and essential oil of yarrow were investigated. Results indicated that the deficit irrigation meaningfully decreased the yields of biological and flower, and essential oil yield, however, the contents of proline and essential oil under reduced irrigation significantly increased. According to essential oils analysis by GC-FID and GC/MS, the major constituents were α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, borneol, β-bisabolene, and caryophyllene oxide. A considerable increase and decrease were observed respectively in the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes contents under reduced irrigation. The utilization of biochar along chitosan maintained higher secondary metabolites in particular α–pinene, β-myrcene, borneol, and 1,8-cineole under deficit irrigation. Generally, it appears that using the foliar spraying of chitosan along the soil application of biochar can be effective in improving the qualitative and quantitative features of the essential oil of A. millefolium in arid and semiarid climates.
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spelling doaj-art-2e01f52a0fc94dbea41f8dbe188c57fd2025-08-24T11:27:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-04308-6Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levelsFarnaz Rezaei-Adl0Abdolah Ghasemi Pirbalouti1Touraj Rahimi2Faezeh Rajabzadeh3Hamid Mozafari4Department of Plant Genetics and Production, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Biology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Plant Genetics and Production, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Plant Genetics and Production, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of Plant Genetics and Production, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad UniversityAbstract Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) is an important medicinal and aromatic plant the active biologically compounds in particular essential oil is used as raw material in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. The impacts of the foliar spraying of chitosan (control and 2.5 g/L chitosan), the use of soil-based biochar (control and soil application at 2.0 kg/m2) under three moisture levels (irrigation at 80–85%, 60–65%, and 40–45% F.C.) on the agronomic traits and essential oil of yarrow were investigated. Results indicated that the deficit irrigation meaningfully decreased the yields of biological and flower, and essential oil yield, however, the contents of proline and essential oil under reduced irrigation significantly increased. According to essential oils analysis by GC-FID and GC/MS, the major constituents were α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, borneol, β-bisabolene, and caryophyllene oxide. A considerable increase and decrease were observed respectively in the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes contents under reduced irrigation. The utilization of biochar along chitosan maintained higher secondary metabolites in particular α–pinene, β-myrcene, borneol, and 1,8-cineole under deficit irrigation. Generally, it appears that using the foliar spraying of chitosan along the soil application of biochar can be effective in improving the qualitative and quantitative features of the essential oil of A. millefolium in arid and semiarid climates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04308-6Achillea millefolium L.α-pinene, borneolβ-bisabolene1,8-cineoleEnzymatic activityReduced irrigation
spellingShingle Farnaz Rezaei-Adl
Abdolah Ghasemi Pirbalouti
Touraj Rahimi
Faezeh Rajabzadeh
Hamid Mozafari
Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
Scientific Reports
Achillea millefolium L.
α-pinene, borneol
β-bisabolene
1,8-cineole
Enzymatic activity
Reduced irrigation
title Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
title_full Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
title_fullStr Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
title_full_unstemmed Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
title_short Soil-based biochar and foliar-spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) under varying moisture levels
title_sort soil based biochar and foliar spraying of chitosan enhances the phytochemical traits of yarrow achillea millefolium l under varying moisture levels
topic Achillea millefolium L.
α-pinene, borneol
β-bisabolene
1,8-cineole
Enzymatic activity
Reduced irrigation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04308-6
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