Domestication of sea fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.) in Türkiye: evaluating yield potential and chemical constituents

Abstract

Sea fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.) is a halophyte species with high potential for supporting sustainable food production and agrobiodiversity. Despite this potential, studies on its domestication and standardized cultivation protocols remain highly limited. In the current study, the agronomic performance and phytochemical diversity of three ecotypes (Atlantic ecotype and native Turkish ecotypes) were evaluated under Mediterranean conditions over two growing seasons. Fresh biomass increased by 76% in the second growing season compared with the first year. This indicates that the plants were successfully established under the experimental conditions and maintained productive growth. Differences among ecotypes were statistically significant; the Atlantic ecotype exhibited superior yield potential compared with the native ecotypes. Bio-fertilizer application significantly increased canopy development and total biomass while also supporting marketability. Phytochemical profiling revealed distinct distributions among plant parts. Flowers were superior in terms of total phenolic and reducing power, whereas leaves stood out as the main reservoir of vitamin C, carotenoids, and radical-scavenging activity. The average essential oil yield was 1.6 ml/100 g dry matter, and compositional analysis showed that the native ecotypes contained high levels of dillapiole, whereas this compound was detected only at trace levels in the Atlantic ecotype. Overall, these findings confirm that sea fennel is a resilient and chemically valuable crop suitable for Mediterranean agriculture and offers a feasible strategy for crop diversification by farmers.