Influence of Salicylic Acid on Essential Oil Content and Changes its Compositions in Cuminum cyminum L.

The effect of foliar application of Salcylic acid (SA) on grain and oil yield of Cuminum cyminum L. in field condition were investigated in the region of Fasa (Fars province, Iran). Treatments comprised 0.1, 0.4, 0.7 and 1.1 mM SA applied to plants. Results indicated that the highest values of oil content (5.03 % v/w) and 1000 grain weight (3.20 g) were obtained from the application of 1.1 mM SA, however, no significant differences were found between SA levels on grain yield. The results of EO analysis showed that the amounts of β-pinene (2.36-3.48 %), ρ-cymene (7.55-9.19 %), γ-terpinene (9.61-12.37 %), γ-terpinene-7-al (24.47-31.96 %) and cumin aldehyde (24.60-29.19 %) as major oil components increased gradually with increasing SA levels, however, the amounts of cis-sabinene hydrate (0.04-0.06 %), trans-sabinene hydrate (0.12-0.17 %), terpinene-4-ol (0.16-0.28 %) and γ-terpinene-7-al (24.47-31.96 %) decreased with increasing SA levels.