Growth of Hypericum perforatum under Moroccan (North African) climatic and soil characteristics

Abstract

This study investigated the morphological response of planted Hypericum perforatum to pedology and climatic conditions in Morocco. In total, 50 fragments detached from the mother stump of H. perforatum were purchased from France and planted in the botanical garden in Meknes 2021–2022. The monitored climatic conditions were temperature (Average (AVT), Minimal (MNT), Maximal (MT), precipitations (PR), and humidity (HD), while the pedology parameters were pH, MO, K, P, MgO, Na2O, and N. We evaluated the effect of the plant on the microbiology around the roots. The effects of these parameters were tested on the biological parameters, including Diameter of principal stem (DPS), Length of principal stem (LPS), Number of secondary stems (NSS), leaves per plant (NL), and flowers (NF) of H. perforatum during growth. During flowering, LPS and NF were significantly superior in 2022 (67.84 ± 15.91 cm and 300 ± 0.00) compared to 2021 (147.8 ± 8.79 cm and 100.00 ± 0.00). During the vegetative stage, the NSS, NL, and DPS were superior (p < 0.05) in 2022 (10.2 ± 2.59 cm, 78 ± 8.86, and 1.48 ± 0.37 cm, respectively) compared to 2021 (7.20 ± 1.30 cm, 61.20 ± 8.53, 0.92 ± 0.53 cm, respectively). In 2021, vegetative stage was in April, while flowering was in June. In 2022, the vegetative stage was in April, while flowering was in May. In 2021, the pH and OM were similar between T0 (8.08 and 4.66 %) and TF (7.96 and 4.46 %) stages, while K, P, and N were significantly decreased in TF (340.8 mg/kg, 52.81 mg/kg, and 0.229 %) compared to T0 (369.6 mg/kg, 56.7 mg/kg, and 0.26 %). During TF of 2022, the pH, N, and OM were similar compared to flowering of 2021, while K, and P were decreased in flowering of 2022 compared to flowering of 2021, while conductivity was increased during flowering of 2022. In contrast, K, MgO, and Na2O decreased from 2021 to 2022. The fungi and bacteria decreased from 2021 to 2022. In contrast, the density of actinomycetes increased from planting to flowering. Despite the importance of this study, more investigations are needed to confirm the obtained findings and to clarify the effects of cultivation conditions on the phytochemicals of the plant.