Morphobiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Monarda L. Varieties under Conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Promising essential oil plants from Lamiaceae family, raw materials of whichare a source of valuable essential oil for pharmaceutical, perfume, cosmetic and food industries, appertain to the genus Monarda L. Species Monarda didyma L. and Monarda fistulosa L. were first imported to Ukraine from Europe and America in the middle of the twentieth century, and today they are successfully cultivated as decorative, spicy-aromatic and medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was to determine morphobiological features, valuable economic and selective traits of Monarda didyma, Monarda fistulosa and Monarda × hybrida hort., developed for arid conditions of the southern steppe of Ukraine in the sector of mobilization and conservation of plant resources at the Institute of Rice of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences (NAAS). The experimental part of the study was performed in 2016-2018 on southern sandy and medium loam black soils (chernozem) in the state enterprise (SE)"Research farm “Novokakhovske" of the Institute of Rice" of NAAS. The experiment was conducted using field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical methods in accordance with generally accepted methods and guidelinesin Ukraine. Plants of developed varieties undergo a full cycle of development under arid conditions of the southern steppe of Ukraine and are characterised by an increased decorativeness, goodeconomic value, high drought and winter tolerance as well as resistance to pest damage. Yield, mass fraction and content of essential oil in aboveground mass of plants were determined. Maximal plant height (120 cm), yield of aboveground mass (18 t/ha), concentration of essential oil (0.8% of crude mass) and thymol content (78.3%) are typical of the variety of Monarda fistulosa, Premiera. Variety of Monarda fistulosa, Fortuna, and variety of Monarda × hybrida hort., Tonya, were inferior to Premiera in all of the above mentioned indicators but demonstrated increased decorativeness and greater resistance tofungi causing powdery mildew (Erysiphe monardae, Golovinomyces biocellatus). Therefore, they can be recommended for region-wide cultivation in agricultural enterprises of the southern steppe of Ukraine as promising essential oil, spice-aromatic and decorative crops. The yield of essential oil from raw materials of Monarda didyma variety, Tenderness, was lower by 32.9% and 26.8%, while its concentration was lower by 37.5% and 28.6%, compared to Monarda fistulosa varieties Premiera and Fortuna, respectively.