Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

The Effect of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) on Growth and Phytochemical Characteristics of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) under Salinity Stress

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
Mahsa Hamidinia
Marzieh Ghanbari Jahromi
Fereidon Ghasemkhan-Ghajar
Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/fsct.2026.84008.0
Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a biochemical elicitor that can function as an endogenous signaling molecule. Nowadays, the use of GABA to mitigate the effects of environmental stresses and enhance the production of bioactive compounds in plants has become common. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mM) on the growth, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) under salinity stress (0, 60, and 120 mM) using a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that 120 mM salinity stress significantly reduced morphological traits such as plant height, fresh weight of aerial parts and roots, and photosynthetic pigment content in the plant. The application of 3 mM gamma-aminobutyric acid resulted in the highest levels of phenols, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity, which were positively correlated. Under moderate salinity stress (60 mM), the essential oil content of the plant increased, but under severe salinity stress (120 mM), the percentage and yield of essential oil decreased. In summary, while lemon balm demonstrates sensitivity to salinity stress, GABA application effectively mitigates its adverse effects by enhancing growth and stimulating production of valuable secondary metabolites. Foliar treatment with 3 mM GABA is recommended as a practical strategy to improve antioxidant capacity and essential oil yield under moderate saline conditions up to 60 mM NaCl, supporting sustainable cultivation of this medicinal plant in affected regions.
 
Keywords
Elicitor
Essential oil percentage
Growth characteristics
Melissa
Osmotic stress

Subjects

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