Lavandula latifolia is one of the main rainfed crops of aromatic and medicinal plants produced in Spain. As a global concern, the agronomic productivity of this aromatic crop is also threatened by the consequences of imminent climate change. On this basis, the study of the agronomic production of two drought-tolerant ecotypes, after three years of cultivations practices, constitutes the main objective of the present study. For this trial, clones of the two pre-selected ecotypes, along with clones from two commercial plants (control), were grown in an experimental plot. The main results confirmed an increase in biomass and essential oil production with plant age. The essential oil chemotype defined by 1,8-cineol, linalool, and camphor was maintained over time, but a decrease in 1,8-cineol in the benefit of linalool was detected. In the phenolic profile, 14 components were identified, with salvianic acid and a rosmarinic acid derivate being the main compounds quantified. These phenolic extracts showed potent in vitro antioxidant capacity, and after the second year of cultivation practices, both phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity remained stable. Thus, under semiarid conditions, L. latifolia drought-tolerant ecotypes reach a good level of production after the second year of crop establishment.

LED light technology has been used in recent years in plant breeding due to its proven energy efficiency, low cost, and high quality for the enhancement of crops, including some aromatic medicinal plants (AMPs). Nonetheless, although several studies have shown that specific wavelengths can increase the content of bioactive compounds used by pharmaceutical, medical, and perfumery industries, there is limited information on this topic and the possible implications for plant stress in AMPs. The current systematic review focused on the effects of LED light on the physiological response, metabolite synthesis, and flowering induction in three important AMP genera: Lavandula, Salvia, and Thymus, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. A literature search was performed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. This review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The bibliographic analysis highlights the significant variation in physiological responses to different light spectra between species, even within the same genera, implying a need to optimize light conditions in each species to achieve the best results. Finally, this review provides essential information for laying the groundwork for future research focused on enhancing AMPs using LED light to overcome various types of stress.

Rosemary is a versatile Mediterranean shrub valued for its culinary and medicinal uses, also finding applications as a food additive (E-392). This study explores the potential of rosemary for large-scale cultivation as well as the valorization of its distillation residue, which constitutes more than 95% of the total biomass. Rich in bioactive compounds, this solid waste represents a valuable opportunity to develop renewable plant-based products. This study monitored the agronomic adaptations of cultivated clones of rosemary and evaluated the essential oil and phenolic content. This study also evaluated the biological potential of the ethanolic extracts from the distilled residue as an antifungal, antioxidant, chelator, and biostimulant in model tests. Interestingly, the extracts showed substantial phenolic content, exhibiting strong antifungal activity, antioxidant capacity, and efficient metal chelation. Furthermore, all extracts also demonstrated promising biostimulant effects on rooting. Among the clones evaluated, Pina de Ebro stood out especially for its balanced adaptability, high essential oil yield, and outstanding phenolic content, along with uniform biological capacities among individual plants and plots. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of utilizing the entire rosemary plant, enhancing the overall profitability of the crop and meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly and renewable resources in the market.

The cultivation of Salvia lavandulifolia, Spanish sage, makes an important contribution to the economy of many rural areas in Southeastern Spain. This aromatic plant species is characterized by high intraspecific variability, which makes the selection process for the establishment of homogeneous crops difficult. Additionally, imminent climate change threatens to reduce its production, especially when cultivated in drylands. Therefore, to guarantee the continued production of this type of sage, it is essential to study its agronomic behavior and production quality. For this, clones from four ecotypes were cultivated for three years, assessing changes in their biomass production, essential oil yield and quality, and phenolic fraction, as well as the corresponding antioxidant activity. The results suggest that essential oil yield is genetically predetermined, greater biomass not being associated with higher quantities of essential oil. Weather conditions affected both essential oil and phenolic fraction secondary metabolism. Under very harsh conditions, Spanish sage produces higher concentrations of camphor and 1,-8-cineole along with luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and lithospermic, rosmarinic, and salvianolic A acids in its phenolic fraction. The synthesis of these components helps the species to withstand the hot and dry conditions typical of southeast Spain.

This study investigated how different spectral ranges of LED light affect the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant systems in Thymus mastichina L., focusing on two ecotypes with distinct chemotypes: linalool and eucalyptol. The ecotypes were exposed to white, red, blue, red-blue (70:30), white-blue, or white-red light for 30 days under a 16/8 h light/dark cycle (115 μmol/m²s). Photosynthetic pigment content, lipid oxidative damage, antioxidant capacities, and both enzymatic (SOD, CAT) and non-enzymatic (tocopherols and polyphenols) antioxidant systems were assessed. For the linalool chemotype, red-blue light significantly increased carotenoid content, antioxidant capacity, and catalase activity, while elevating levels of plastochromanol-8 and phenolic compounds such as salvianolic acid B, rosmarinic acid, and 6-OH-apigenin-7-hexoside, thereby reducing oxidative stress. In contrast, for the eucalyptol chemotype, pure red light produced the most significant enhancements in carotenoid synthesis and antioxidant defenses, substantial increases in key compounds such as salvianic, neochlorogenic, rosmarinic, and lithospermic acids, and salvianolic acids E and B, and higher levels of plastochromanol-8. Additionally, both SOD and CAT activities increased, providing greater protection against lipid oxidation. These findings highlight the importance of customizing light treatments not only based on plant species but also according to chemotype to obtain optimal biochemical and physiological outcomes.