Essential oil content and components of Ferulago angulate (Schltdl.) Boiss affected by foliar application of some important micronutrient

p Ferulago angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss, belonging to the family Apiaceae, is one of the important and endangered endemic species in Iran. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of micronutrient element application on the content and composition of essential oils (EOs) of F. angulata shoots in southwestern Iran (Shahrekord) during 2022 and 2023. Four foliar fertilizers mdash;Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn mdash;were applied at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 mg/L in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a factorial layout and three replications. Results obtained from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed 15 EO components. The applied micronutrients significantly influenced the EO content and composition of F. angulata. Over the two years, the highest EO content (0.59 -0.68%) was obtained in plants treated with 40 mg/L of micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn), while the lowest content (0.37 -0.41%) was observed in the control plants. However, plants treated with 60 mg/L of micronutrients were grouped similarly to the control plants in most characteristics. The most important chemical compounds that determine the quality of F. angulata EOs were identified as alpha-pinene (20.13 -35.88%), alpha-thujene (12.67 -18.14%), and cis-ocimene (11.41 -22.01%) from the monoterpene hydrocarbons category, and 4-thujanol (1.01 -10.54%) from the oxygenated monoterpenes category. Alpha-pinene, a monoterpene hydrocarbon, was the predominant constituent of the EOs of F. angulata. In conclusion, the application of micronutrients at a concentration of 40 mg/L can be a promising strategy to improve the quantity and quality of EOs in F. angulata under cold and semi-arid climates. /p