Mycorrhizal Colonization Modulates the Essential Oil Profile and Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants to Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Water Deficit in subg. .

Among traditional Iranian herbs, species (a subgenus of ), while being valued ornamentals, are also studied for numerous potential pharmacological and therapeutic aspects. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and separately and in combination, in terms of the essential oil content and compositions along with the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in and in response to three levels of irrigation, including 100% FC as well-watered, 75% FC (moderate irrigation deficit), and 50% FC (severe irrigation deficit). In both species, essential oil content, enzyme antioxidant activities, total phenolics, and flavonoids were increased significantly with the severity of stress; this increase was more pronounced in mycorrhizal inoculated herbs.