SHADE-INDUCED PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMIC TRAITS OF PATCHOULI, POGOSTEMON CABLIN (BLANCO) BENTH., A HIGH-VALUE AROMATIC CROP

The study was conducted to assess the patchouli crop responses to varying light intensities: full-sunlight (open-condition), 30% shade, and 50% shade. It showed notable variations in growth, development, essential oil yield, and chemical composition between full-sunlight and partial-shade conditions. Plants grown in 50% shade exhibited significant increases in height (113.83 cm), inter-nodal length (8.81 cm), leaf area (59.17 cm2), petiole length (3.78 cm), and width (3.44 mm) compared to open conditions. However, reductions in branches/plant (14.26), fresh weight (152.95 g), dry weight (29.64 g), leaf thickness (117.57 µm), number of trichomes (13.14 no./mm2), number of oil glands (10.14 no./mm2), and oil content (0.98%) were observed in 50% shade plants compared to open conditions. Anatomical modifications like bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) were present in 30% and 50% of shade-grown plants but absent in open-condition-grown plants.