Background: Iron is an essential micronutrient that may effect on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of medicinal plants.
Objective: The effect of foliar application of nano-iron chalate were studied on phytochemical and morpho-physiological traits of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.).
Methods: Foliar application of nano-iron chalate on phytochemical and morpho-physiological traits of dragonhead, an experiment was performed in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2014 at Marand’s Payame Noor University. Treatments were including: control (no foliar application), and foliar application of nano-iron chelate (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/lit) at stem elongation and beginning of flowering stages.
Results: Foliar application of 2 g/L nano-iron chelate had negative effect on most of the traits in stem elongation and beginning of flowering stages. The maximum and minimum magnitudes of content and yield of essential oil were obtained by foliar application of 1.5 and 2 g/L nano-iron chelate, respectively. The highest and the lowest amounts of chlorophyll were obtained with application of 1 g/L nano-iron chelate at beginning of flowering stage and control, respectively. The highest and the lowest amounts of flavonoid and anthocyanin were achieved by foliar application of 1.5 g/L nano-iron chelate at beginning of flowering stage and control treatment, respectively.
Conclusion: Application of 2 g/L nano-iron chelate had significant effect on most of the traits. Foliar application of nano-iron chelate (1.5 g/L) not only improve the quantitative and qualitative of dragonhead traits but also it causes to move towards sustainable agriculture.

Background: Drought stress reduces growth and changes metabolites of medicinal plants. Mycorrhizal fungus in interaction with phosphorus can modify drought stress.
Objective: Study the effects of drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer on growth indexes, quantity and quality of essential oil of medicinal plant Dracocephalum moldavica L.
Methods: This study was done on the base of factorial experiment in randomized complete block design with five replications. The factors were consist of three level of drought stress 95% Fc, 65% Fc and 35% Fc, three level of mycorrhizal inoculation (non-inoculated, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradiceae) and two level of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 100 kg/ha).
Results: Interaction effects were significant between drought stress, mycorhiza and phosphorus factors in all measured attributes at the 1% level. The highest fresh weight of plant and leaf were related to no drought stress condition (95% of field capacity), application of mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest number of flowers, fresh weight of root, and essential oil percent were recorded in mild drought stress (65% of field capacity), mycorrhiza inoculation and application of phosphorus fertilizer. The lowest amount of all of above mentioned traits obtained in severe water stress, without Mycorhiza and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The highest content of 6-methyl- 2-phenylindole and Z-citral in essential oil were obtained with no drought stress treatment. The mild water stress with application of G. intraradices increased the geranyl formate, geranyl acetate and caryophyllene oxide in essential oil.
Conclusion: Application of two mychorhiza strains in severe water stress can increase physiological yield and essential oil percent of Deracocephalum moldavica in about 45- 100%. The essential oil was increased even in no water stress with application of mychorhiza strains.

Background: Essential oil content and composition in medicinal and aromatic plants is highly affected by both biotic and abiotic factors.
Objective: To investigate the effects of drought stress, zeolite and bio-fertilizers on morphological characteristics and essential oil constituents in Dracocephalum moldavica L.
Methods: This experiment was conducted in the form of split factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in two years (2014 and 2015). The factorial experimental treatment was three levels of soil moisture (90%, 60% and 30%FC) applied to main plot, while application of zeolite (0 and 2 g per kg of soil) and bio-fertilizers (control, nitroxin, phosphate barvar-2 and nitroxin×phosphate barvar-2) were applied to sub plots.
Results: Application of zeolite had the highest effect on plant height, leaf area, dry matter and flowering top branches yield (FTBY) in 90%FC and essential oil percentage and yield in 60%FC. Similarly, combination of nitroxine+phosphate barvar-2 caused maximum value of plant height, leaf area, dry matter and FTBY in 90% FC and essential oil percentage and yield in 60%FC. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil identified 14 compounds including ester and non ester combinations. The main compounds of ester combinations were geranyl acetate and neryl acetate and the main compounds of non ester combinations were neral, geraniol and geranial. The maximum percentage of ester and non ester combinations produced in 30%FC and 60-90%FC, respectively.
Conclusion: Application of zeolite accompanied by combination of nitroxine+phosphate barvar-2 produced the highest value of examined traits in D. moldavica L.