title: Effects of foliar fertilization and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on Salvia officinalis L. growth, antioxidant capacity, and essential oil composition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of foliar fertilization and Glomus intraradices inoculation on the growth, qualitative and quantitative pattern of essential oil in Salvia officinalis was determined. Sage plants were grown in a glass house on a soil/sand mixture (w/w = 3:1). Agroleaf total, N:P:K = 20:20:20 + microelements, was used at the whole vegetative growth stage as a 0.3% solution. Inoculation with Glomus intraradices was done at the sowing stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Application of foliar fertilization and/or mycorrhizal colonization improved dry biomass accumulation and increased the content of antioxidant metabolites (ascorbate and reduced glutathione). Applied treatments lowered the activities of the antioxidants enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, while guaiacol peroxidase increased. The relative quantity of essential oil pattern was also altered as a result of the applied treatments. Combined application (FF + Gi) significantly promoted 1,8-cineole and alpha-thujone, mycorrhizal colonization enhanced bornyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, alpha- and beta-thujones, while foliar fertilization increased bornyl acetate and camphor. The favorable effect of root colonization by Glomus intraradices was determined both on quantitative and qualitative pattern of sage essential oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that inoculation with Glomus intraradices resulted in improved essential oil yield and quality, while combined application of foliar fertilizer and mycorrhizal fungi predominantly enhanced shoot biomass accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Acad. M Popov Institute of Plant Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria. boykova2@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Geneva
authors.forename: Ira V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Stancheva
authors.forename: Madlen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boychinova
authors.forename: Nadezhda H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mincheva
authors.forename: Petranka A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Yonova
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D005308:Fertilizers; D055137:Glomeromycota; D038821:Mycorrhizae; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D027543:Salvia officinalis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005308:Fertilizers; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium