Study of Vegetative and Ornamental Traits of Different Species of Sage (Salvia spp.) in the Climatic Conditions of Birjand

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

M. Abaspour

H. Bayat

M. H. Aminifard

F. Moradinezhad

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jhs.2025.92524.1419

Abstract

Introduction
Sage (Salvia spp.), which belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae), is considered one of the largest and most important genera in terms of aromatic and medicinal properties. This diverse genus includes approximately 900 species, each with unique characteristics, and is mainly native to the northern Mediterranean and North African regions. It is used as a traditional medicine in the treatment of many diseases and as a seasoning and flavoring in the food industry. Sage is a remarkable plant that is widely known for its numerous medicinal properties, including antispasmodic, antiseptic and sedative effects, which makes it very valuable in traditional and modern medicine. In addition to its therapeutic benefits, this aromatic plant usually reaches a height of 60 cm. The plant is suitable for cultivation in green spaces and parks due to its ornamental properties and resistance to environmental stresses. Numerous features, including the diversity of the native Iranian sage genus, aesthetic aspects, and high adaptability to environmental stresses such as drought, increase the potential of these plants for use in urban green spaces, and their widespread use can help create sustainable green spaces. Considering the beauty of the leaves and flowers of these plants, the presence of abundant fragrance during the flowering stage, the lack of need for special conditions for cultivation, and their resistance to adverse conditions, it seems that these plants are very suitable for cultivation in green spaces for ornamental purposes. Most previous research on sage has focused on the medicinal value and the increase in its medicinal compounds and secondary metabolites, and the ornamental potential of the plant for use in green spaces has not been considered. Considering the diversity of this genus in Iran and its beauty, its use in urban green spaces as a native plant compatible with the country's climatic conditions can be investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the vegetative and ornamental traits of different native and imported sage species, as well as the potential of this plant for ornamental uses in the climatic conditions of Birjand.
 
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted on 14 genotypes of medicinal sage (Salvia spp.) in the research farm and greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand during 2022-2024 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. During the plant growth period, vegetative traits including plant height, plant width and number of leaves were examined every 15 days. At the full flowering stage, peduncle length, number of peduncle, number of florets in main and axillary inflorescences, number of axillary inflorescence peduncles, inflorescence diameter, peduncle diameter, diameter and length of floret, length of main and axillary inflorescence, interfloral distance of florets, number of days to flowering, and flower durability on the plant were measured.
 
Results and Discussion
The results of variance analysis showed that there was a significant difference between different sage species for all studied traits at the 1% probability level. The highest plant height (32.93 cm), leaf width (63.80 cm), and number of leaves (337) were obtained from the species Salvia nemorosa SA036, Salvia sclarea var turkestanica SA060 and Salvia officinalis, respectively. In addition, the lowest plant height (3.20 cm) was obtained from Salvia chorassanica, leaf width (6.05 cm) and number of leaves (6) from the species Salvia virgata. In terms of reproductive traits, the highest peduncle length (49.15 cm), main inflorescence length (34.10 cm) and number of axillary inflorescence (12) were observed in the Salvia sclarea SA058 species. The lowest flower durability on the plant (25 days) was observed in the Salvia chorassanica species, and the other species had the highest flower persistence and no significant difference was observed between them. The highest (23) and lowest (2) number of peduncle were observed in the Salvia reuterina and Salvia firgida species, respectively. The highest inflorescence diameter (51.81 mm) and peduncle diameter (4.45 mm) were obtained from Salvia reuterina and Salvia sclarea var turkestanica SA060, respectively. The results of this study showed that there was high genetic diversity in terms of morphological traits among different sage species, which have the potential to be used as ornamental plants in urban green spaces.
 
Conclusion
The results of this study showed that native and imported sage species have significant diversity in terms of vegetative and ornamental traits, indicating the high genetic potential of this genus. Some imported sage species, especially in terms of ornamental characteristics, perform better than native species. These species show significant potential for cultivation in urban green spaces, making them very valuable for landscaping purposes. By intelligently selecting and including these species in urban planning, a significant contribution can be made in increasing and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of urban environments. Given the diversity of sage species in the country, it is essential to examine this diversity and use it in breeding programs for ornamental purposes and cultivation in urban green spaces.
 

Keywords

Green space

Morphological diversity

Ornamental plant

Phenology

Subjects

• Ornamental plants

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©2024 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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