Effect of Bio-stimulator Fosnutren and Humiforte on some morphophysiological and phytochemical traits of Garden Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) under water deficit

Water stress is one of the most important environmental factors limiting the growth and yield of plants, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Bio-stimulants are biological substances that stimulate metabolism and metabolic processes to increase plant efficiency. To investigate the effects of low water stress and bio-stimulants of Fosnutren and Humiforte on some morphophysiological and phytochemical traits of thyme, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 12 treatments and 3 replications in 2020 performed in greenhouse conditions. Therefore, the seedlings obtained from seed cultivation after two weeks of transfer to the pot, were exposed to dehydration stress treatments (25, 50, 75 and 100% of field capacity). Foliar application of plants with Fosnutren and Humiforte (5 ml) was performed three times and once every 15 days. The desired traits were evaluated 15 days after the last treatments. The results showed that increasing the levels of low water stress (25 and 50% of field capacity) caused a significant decrease in growth indices, chlorophyll content, total antioxidant percentage and essential oils and increase in proline content. Simultaneous treatment of drought and bio-stimulants of Fosnutren and humiforte with significantly reduced oxidative stress due to dehydration improved the evaluated traits except the amount of proline. The highest percentage of essential oil (2.34%) in Fosnutren foliar spraying and was obtained at 75% field capacity. In general, foliar application of Fosnutren and Humiforte reduced the negative effects of dehydration in thyme.