Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress

Hossin Rahdar; Mehdi Aran; Rahman Rahimian; Mohammad Ali Karimian; Pegah Sayyad-Amin

doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1828044

Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress

Abstract

Water scarcity, exacerbated by global warming and climate change, significantly limits plant growth, productivity, and quality. Given the medicinal and economic value of mint (Mentha spp.) and the importance of water use management for plant production, this study assessed the potential of zeolite to alleviate drought stress in mint cultivation. The study was conducted as a factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors consisted of two mint species (peppermint and spearmint), three treatments of zeolite (0, 20, and 40 g kg-1 soil), and three levels of irrigation at 40%, 70%, and 100% of field capacity (FC). Results showed that under severe water deficit, in 40% FC, plant height, leaf number, aerial dry weight, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and potassium concentrations were significantly reduced in both species. In contrast, drought stress increased levels of osmoprotectants and stress-related metabolites, including soluble sugars, proline, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidative defense, including guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes. Zeolite application at both 20 and 40 g kg-1 soil improved plant growth parameters, chlorophyll content, proline accumulation, sugar and phenolic compound levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and mineral content (particularly potassium and calcium) under water-limited conditions. Under severe drought (40% FC), zeolite efficiency varied by species: 40 g kg-1 was most effective in spearmint, whereas 20 g kg-1 was optimal for proline accumulation in peppermint. These findings demonstrate that the application of zeolite is an effective strategy for enhancing physiological performance and drought tolerance in mint species.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hossin Rahdar This is me
0000-0002-2794-4242
Iran

Mehdi Aran
0000-0002-5180-9438
Iran

Rahman Rahimian ^*
0000-0002-4173-5519
Iran

Mohammad Ali Karimian This is me
0000-0001-5382-3519
Iran

Pegah Sayyad-Amin This is me
0000-0002-5520-6415
Iran

Publication Date

October 12, 2026

Submission Date

November 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 32 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1828044

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA92MR79AA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Rahdar, H., Aran, M., Rahimian, R., Karimian, M. A., & Sayyad-Amin, P. (2026). Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 32(4), 845-855. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1828044

AMA

1.Rahdar H, Aran M, Rahimian R, Karimian MA, Sayyad-Amin P. Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32(4):845-855. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1828044

Chicago

Rahdar, Hossin, Mehdi Aran, Rahman Rahimian, Mohammad Ali Karimian, and Pegah Sayyad-Amin. 2026. “Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha Spp. To Water Deficit Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 (4): 845-55. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1828044.

EndNote

Rahdar H, Aran M, Rahimian R, Karimian MA, Sayyad-Amin P (October 1, 2026) Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 4 845–855.

IEEE

[1]H. Rahdar, M. Aran, R. Rahimian, M. A. Karimian, and P. Sayyad-Amin, “Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress”, J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 845–855, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.15832/ankutbd.1828044.

ISNAD

Rahdar, Hossin - Aran, Mehdi - Rahimian, Rahman - Karimian, Mohammad Ali - Sayyad-Amin, Pegah. “Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha Spp. To Water Deficit Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32/4 (October 1, 2026): 845-855. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1828044.

JAMA

1.Rahdar H, Aran M, Rahimian R, Karimian MA, Sayyad-Amin P. Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32:845–855.

MLA

Rahdar, Hossin, et al. “Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha Spp. To Water Deficit Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 32, no. 4, Oct. 2026, pp. 845-5, doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1828044.

Vancouver

1.Hossin Rahdar, Mehdi Aran, Rahman Rahimian, Mohammad Ali Karimian, Pegah Sayyad-Amin. Zeolite Amendment Influences Physiological Performance, Osmotic Adjustment, and Antioxidant Defense of Mentha spp. to Water Deficit Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026 Oct. 1;32(4):845-5. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1828044