Comparative Study of Wild and Cultivated Lavandula dentata: Impact of Growth Conditions on Essential Oil Composition, Biological Activities, and Microbial Associations

To ensure the preservation and sustainable use of Lavandula dentata, we have examined the impact of different growth conditions on cultivated and wild L. dentata essential oils (EOs) composition and biological activities, along with the biomass of root and soil microorganisms. Gas chromatography analysis revealed 21 and 23 components in the EO of the wild and culti-vated plants, accounting for over 98% of the total composition in both cases. The major com-pounds of wild EO were borneol (49.47%), eucalyptol (23.01%), β-pinene (3.95%), β-eudesmol (3.79%), and myrtenol (3.61%). In contrast, the EO extracted from cultivated plants was charac-terized by a high content of borneol (32.83%), isobornyl acetate (24.45%), eucalyptol (14.71%), and α-pinene (5.83%). Unique compounds were found in wild and cultivated EO, such as lin-alool, cis-verbenol, carveol, α-selinene, and terpinyl acetate or tricyclene, d-limonene, cam-phene hydrate, and isobornyl acetate, respectively. PLFA analysis revealed a higher microbial biomass in both soil (10.393 µg/g) and the roots (68.04 µg/g) of the wild plants compared to the cultivated ones (3.91 µg/g in soil and 62.04 µg/g in roots), driven especially by gram negative bacteria in soil, and by saprotrophic fungi in the roots. The biological activities of the EOs var-ied with, the growth conditions, with the wild EO demonstrating superior antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and nematicidal properties. Our results highlight the importance of natu-ral growth conditions in shaping the chemical composition of L. dentata EO. Nevertheless, cul-tivation practices could serve as a promising alternative to ensure the sustainable use of this species, provided they are managed under appropriate agronomic and ecological conditions