AGROBIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS FOR INCREASING THE YIELD AND BIOACTIVE COMPOUND CONTENT OF GERMAN CHAMOMILE (MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA L.)

Abstract

Matricaria chamomilla L. (German chamomile) remains one of the most widely utilized medicinal and aromatic plants globally, valued primarily for its rich pharmacological profile. The therapeutic value of chamomile is determined by its essential oil constituents (notably chamazulene, α-bisabolol, and bisabolol oxides) and polyphenolic fractions (such as apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin derivatives). However, modern industrial demands require cultivation techniques that maximize inflorescence biomass while simultaneously elevating targeted secondary metabolite concentrations without causing environmental degradation. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of modern agrobiotechnological approaches applied to M. chamomilla cultivation. We evaluate the impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), exogenous metabolic elicitors, and plant tissue culture techniques on inflorescence yield, essential oil volume, and bioactive constituent synthesis. Integrative agrobiotechnological interventions demonstrate yield increases ranging from 20% to 45% and significant upregulation of essential sesquiterpene pathways.