Growth, Phytoremediation Potency and Essential Oil Component of Ferula haussknechtii H.Wolff ex Rech.f. Grown Under Lead Stress Conditions

Ferula haussknechtii H. Wolff ex Rech.F. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Apiaceae, family. In order to investigate the effect of Pb on the growth, chemical composition of essential oil and accumulation of metals in this species, a pot study was conducted under glasshouse condition. Seeds were collected from natural rangelands of Lorestan province, Iran in summer 2016. Seeds were tested for dormancy breaking and were sown in total 12 of 5 kg plastic pots.After 120 days, when the plants grew to about 10 cm, the plants were exposed to three different lead nitrate [Pb (NO3)2] concentrations of control (0), 2 and 4 mM (as Pb1, Pb2 and Pb3), respectively. The results revealed that the shoot length decreased by 5.2 and 28.9% with the application of 2 and 4 mM lead respectively as compared to the control. The maximum value for the survival rate was obtained in Pb1 treatment. The Root Concentration Factor (RCF) and Translocation Factor (TF) values were all less than the desired unit. The essential oil percent decreased by 21 and 39% with the application of 2 and 4 mM lead nitrate, respectively, as compared to the control. According to the results of GC-MS, a total of 36 compounds were detected in the essential oils of F. haussknechtii. β-Eudesmol (10.8%), camphor (13.8%), γ-eudesmol (8.7%), α-pinene (5.9%), myrcene (8.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.2%) were the main constituents of the essential oil of F. haussknechtii. It was concluded that addition of lead nitrate affected the constituents of the essential oil of F. haussknechtii and this plant is not appropriate for phytoremediation or phytoextraction purposes.