Effect of acute drought stress and time of harvest on phytochemistry and dry weight of St. John's wort leaves and flowers

The phytochemistry and dry weight of cultivated St. John's wort are significantly influenced by acute drought stress and time of harvest. In this study, plants subjected to brief drought stress during both flower and seed development periods exhibited increased concentrations in 8 of the 10 phytochemicals examined in this study, including hypericin, pseudohypericin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, and quercetin. Increases ranged from 5% to 36% (hyperoside and rutin, respectively). Conversely, the concentrations of hyperforin and adhyperforin in flowers were decreased by an average of 10% in drought-stressed plants as compared to well-watered control plants. Acute drought stress decreased flower dry weight significantly during both drydown periods, although vegetative parameters (height, leaf dry weight and stem dry weight) were not adversely affected. While acute drought stress significantly altered the chemical yield in the leaves and flowers (phytochemical content x harvested dry weight), the time of harvest was the predominant factor determining phytochemical concentration in the organs of H. perforatum.