Speaker
Description
Climate change increases frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts in Mediterranean
regions and extends Mediterranean-like conditions into temperate zones, threatening MAP
(Aromatic, Medicinal, and Perfume Plants) cultivation.
Agroforestry, by providing partial shade, may buffer temperature extremes and reduce
evapotranspiration, but MAP species vary in their shade tolerance.
This study evaluates how tree-like shading affects the physiology, biochemistry, and phenology
of three representative MAP species : lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia), curly parsley
(Petroselinum crispum), and valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and whether shade mitigates heat
and drought stress. An artificial shade device combined with rain exclusion was installed in
southern France to reproduce the spatial heterogeneity of agroforestry canopies.
Microclimate monitoring (temperature, humidity, PAR, wind) and plant measurements (growth,
photosynthesis, agronomic traits) revealed shading effects on PAR and canopy temperature.
Parsley and valerian responded most positively: shaded parsley showed improved emergence,
growth, and yield, while shaded valerian displayed higher photochemical efficiency, and
doubled root biomass yield. Lavandin showed subtler responses, with slightly higher
photochemical efficiency under shade and similar essential oil composition across treatments,
despite reduced yield in one shade regime.
Overall, partial shade enhanced growing conditions for temperate MAPs, while lavandin,
Mediterranean species, remained less sensitive, highlighting species-specific functional traits.
| Keywords | MAP, Shadding effect, Physiological responses, micro-climate, |
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