Plant Process and Function

en Temperature-induced physiological and phytochemical changes in Ziziphora clinopodioides during the growing season Temperature-induced physiological and phytochemical changes in Ziziphora clinopodioides during the growing season تنش دما thermal stress كاربردي Applicable <div style="text-align: left;"><ins cite="mailto:MRT%20Pack%2024%20DVDs" datetime="2025-08-27T21:15">Temperature has a profound effect on plant growth, development, and phytochemical production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and phytochemical responses of Ziziphora clinopodioides L. to decreasing temperatures throughout the growing season, focusing on nitrogen levels, chlorophyll content, and essential oil composition. By identifying these changes, we sought to determine the optimal growing conditions to improve the quality and industrial applications of this medicinal plant. The investigation was conducted through a field experiment in 2022 at the Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design. The results showed a significant relationship between decreasing ambient temperatures and the phytochemical components of the plant. As the temperature decreased, there was a corresponding reduction in the levels of chlorophyll, nitrogen, and essential oils. The results showed an inverse relationship between essential oil content and pulegone with decreasing air temperature. In contrast, menthone, menthol, and piperitone showed a positive correlation with cooler temperatures. Pulegone content decreased by 81.75% from the first sampling at 22.5°C to the sixth sampling at 7°C, with the highest concentration observed at the highest temperature (22.5°C) and the lowest at the lowest temperature (-1°C). Conversely, menthone and menthol concentrations were minimal at the highest temperature (22.5°C) during the first stage and peaked at the seventh stage when temperatures reached 5.5°C. These results provided valuable insights into the biochemical responses of Z. clinopodioides to temperature variation, enhancing our understanding of its essential oil quality and potential industrial applications.</ins></div> <ins cite="mailto:MRT%20Pack%2024%20DVDs" datetime="2025-08-27T21:15">Temperature has a profound effect on plant growth, development, and phytochemical production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and phytochemical responses of Ziziphora clinopodioides L. to decreasing temperatures throughout the growing season, focusing on nitrogen levels, chlorophyll content, and essential oil composition. By identifying these changes, we sought to determine the optimal growing conditions to improve the quality and industrial applications of this medicinal plant. The investigation was conducted through a field experiment in 2022 at the Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design. The results showed a significant relationship between decreasing ambient temperatures and the phytochemical components of the plant. As the temperature decreased, there was a corresponding reduction in the levels of chlorophyll, nitrogen, and essential oils. The results showed an inverse relationship between essential oil content and pulegone with decreasing air temperature. In contrast, menthone, menthol, and piperitone showed a positive correlation with cooler temperatures. Pulegone content decreased by 81.75% from the first sampling at 22.5°C to the sixth sampling at 7°C, with the highest concentration observed at the highest temperature (22.5°C) and the lowest at the lowest temperature (-1°C). Conversely, menthone and menthol concentrations were minimal at the highest temperature (22.5°C) during the first stage and peaked at the seventh stage when temperatures reached 5.5°C. These results provided valuable insights into the biochemical responses of Z. clinopodioides to temperature variation, enhancing our understanding of its essential oil quality and potential industrial applications.</ins> Essential oil, Leaf temperature, Pulegone, Temperature stress Essential oil, Leaf temperature, Pulegone, Temperature stress 119 132 http://jispp.iut.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1320-5&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Saeid Hazrati Saeid.hazrati@azaruniv.ac.ir Yes Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Iraj Ezzatmand Iraj Ezzatmand izzatmand@gmail.com No Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Saeed Mollaei Saeed Mollaei smollayi@ymail.com No Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences,Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Kazem Lotfi Kazem Lotfi 09144045403k@gmail.com No Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture,Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran