How thyme thrives under drought: insights into photosynthetic and membrane-protective mechanisms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drought is an abiotic stress that significantly reduces the yield of thyme (Thymus vulgaris). This study investigated how iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs), together with symbiotic bacterial (Azospirillum lipoferum) and fungal (Aspergillus oryzae) endophytes, modulate osmotic adjustment, molecular and biochemical mechanisms related to photosynthesis, and drought tolerance mechanisms in thyme.

Results

The experiment was evaluated as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. evaluating three treatment factors: four irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity), four FeNPs concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg L⁻¹), and three endophyte treatments (control, bacterial (EB), and fungal (EF) inoculation). At 25% FC,

SUBMITTER: Kamyab A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403968 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature