Abstract To assess the growth and biochemical responses of Thymus vulgaris to the application of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃ NPs) and endophytes under drought stress, a factorial experiment was designed in a completely randomized design (CRD). Experimental treatments included 4 irrigation levels (100, 75, 50, and 25% FC), 4 levels of Fe₂O₃ NPs (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mgL⁻ ¹), and 3 levels of endophytes (control, bacteria and fungi). Drought stress had a detrimental impact on total dry matter (TDM). Inoculation of plants with endophytes and foliar Fe₂O₃ NPs spraying played a positive role in preserving and increasing the phenolic and flavonoid contents of thyme under drought-stress conditions. The highest total phenolic content (2.86 mg g⁻ ¹ FW) and total flavonoid content (4.54 mg g⁻ ¹ FW) were observed in plants treated with bacteria along with 1 mgL⁻ ¹ Fe₂O₃ NPs and fungal treatment with 0.5 mgL⁻ ¹ Fe₂O₃ NPs, respectively, under 25% FC irrigation. Exposure to moderate and severe drought stresses increased the predominant phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid) in the methanolic extract of thyme. During moderate stress conditions (50% FC), bacterial endophytes exerted a more substantial influence on the elevation of p-coumaric acid compared to fungal endophytes. In response to reduced irrigation levels, the essential oil percentage increased in thyme plants, while the predominant constituents of the essential oil, namely thymol and carvacrol, decreased. Endophytes and Fe₂O₃ NPs positively influenced the percentage of essential oil and the concentrations of thymol and carvacrol in the essential oil.
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Kamyab et al. (2024) studied this question.
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