Research in Plant Metabolites

Research in Plant Metabolites

The effectiveness of some of the metabolites and morphological traits of stevia in intercropping with Iranian borage under wheat straw mulch levels

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Raiszadeh 1
Aliraza Abdali mashhadi
Mohammad houssain Gharineh 1
Gholamreza Goodarzi 2
Amin Lotfi Jalal Abadi 1
1 Department of Production and Plant Genetics Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Bavi, Mollasani, Iran.
2 Markazi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (Arak)
10.22034/jrpsm.2025.497796.1047
Abstract
The goals of intercropping are to increase support and reduce competition among plants and to make optimal use of available resources to achieve higher yields. This experiment was conducted at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research (Arak) as a factorial design in a randomized complete block design. The experimental factors included intercropping ratios of two plants, Stevia and Iranian borscht, using the replacement method (25% stevia + 75% borage, 50% stevia + 50% borage, 75% stevia + 25% borage, pure stevia and pure borage) and wheat stubble mulch, including no mulch application (control), mulch coverage on the furrows (three tons per hectare), and mulch coverage on the furrows and ridges (six tons per hectare). Results indicated that morphological traits, including plant height and number of stevia stems, were significant. In contrast, primary stem diameter, leaf greenness index, and leaf area index were significant. A significant interactive impact was observed between the mulch and hybrid cultivation on Stevia glycosides and fatty acids of Iranian borage. Stevioside glycoside is significant at a 1% level, and the highest level of stevioside (3.74%) was observed in a cultivation ratio of 75% stevia and 25% Iranian borage with mulch within furrows. The highest level of gamma-linolenic unsaturated fatty acids (3.8%) was obtained by consumption of mulch in furrow with ridge coverage. The lowest level of palmitic saturated fatty acids (9.94%), and stearic acid (4.05%) were observed in a cultivation ratio of 75% stevia and 25% Iranian borage with mulch within furrow and ridge coverage.
Keywords
Leaf area index
Medicinal Plant
Natural sweetener
Secondary metabolites
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