Asian J Agric & Biol. 2019;7(2):289-299. Cultivation and utilization of "Greek mountain tea" (Sideritis spp.): current knowledge and future challenges Alexandra D. Solomou1*, Elpiniki Skoufogianni2, Christos Mylonas2, Rafailia Germani2, Nicholaos G. Danalatos2 1Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, N. Chlorou 1, 11528, Ilisia, Athens, Greece 2Laboratory of Agronomy and Applied Crop Physiology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Str., 38446, N. Ionia, Magnesia, Volos, Greece Abstract The Greek ecosystems consist of a variety of plant species, of which a large percentage have aromatic and medicinal properties. Aromatic and medicinal plants play an important role in the health of people worldwide, especially in developing countries. The present review focuses on Sideritis spp. that is an important plant with an increased attention in the last years for its wide range of uses and especially due to its medicinal properties. The location and conditions of the areas that can be used for its cultivation should be similar to those of its natural habitat in order to keep the product quality. It is important to mention that both the yield and the lifetime of the crop depend to a large extent on cultivation care. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Sideritis spp. fetch an auspicious potential for improvement of memory in healthy adults as well as in dementia patients. Currently, the demand for these plants and their derivatives has increased because they are natural, eco-friendly and generally recognized as safe products with high economic value. Therefore, it comprises an important commodity for extensive cultivation in Greece in the near future. Hence, this emphasizes the need of extensive study for reporting the additional information on the aromatic and Asian J Agric & Biol. 2019;7(2):289-299. 289 Alexandra D. Solomou et al. in people’s health throughout the world, especially in family of the order Lamiales. This genus includes developing countries. Human societies throughout the perennial plants, most of which are native to the world have acquired a wide range of empirical Balkan Peninsula. knowledge, mainly over the centuries, in the The most important native species of Sideritis in medicinal uses of plants. According to Rates (2001), a Greece are presented in the below Table 1. medicinal plant is defined as any plant used: (a) to alleviate, prevent or cure a disease or modify a Crop ecology and cultivation practices physiological or pathological process, and (b) as a Wild populations of Sideritis spp. thrive in source for the production of medicines. A total of mountainous areas of high altitudes, over 1000 meters, 422,000 plant species have been recorded worldwide, usually on sunny slopes with a high inclination. of which 12.5% have been reported to have Furthermore, it seems to occur on rocky soils with a therapeutic properties, while 25% of the medicines in sand-clay composition, a wide range of pH: 6.9-8 and the modern pharmaceutical industry have as a raw a low content in nutrients. Also, the high temperature material plant species (Schippmann et al., 2002). at daytime and the low temperature at night, at such The Mediterranean Basin is considered to be a "Global habitats, seems to have a positive effect (Koutsos, biodiversity hotspot" (Beltran et al., 2014). The 2006). Plants of this genus are adapted to grow in their geographical position of Greece combined with the natural environment. Thus, due to the particular interactions between the biotic and abiotic factors has ecological requirements of plants, the selection of the designated Greece as a region of great importance appropriate habitat for cultivation is particularly regarding the aromatic and medicinal plant species important. The location and conditions of the areas that provide therapeutic, economic and environmental that can be used for cultivation should be similar to benefits (e.g. Sideritis spp., Origanum sp., etc.) those of their natural habitat in order to keep the (Katsiotis & Chatzopoulou, 2015). Sideritis product quality. Under these conditions, cultivated constitutes one of the most important aromatic plants plants - already stressed because they are genetically worldwide. Sideritis internationally known as adapted to a different environment - are less mountain tea - includes about 140 species, many of vulnerable to pests and diseases, and require less input which are native to Greece. The genus Sideritis is and cultivation practices. Thereby, organic farming polymorphic and taxonomically complex because of becomes more possible and economical (Katsiotis & the frequent hybridization that occurs in the natural Chatzopoulou, 2015). populations (Kassi et al., 2004; Kalivas et al., 2014). The native species in Greece belong to the genus Field preparation and planting Sideritis, sect. Empedoclia BENTHAM and are the Excessive soil treatment is not necessary for following: Sideritis athoa (Athos's tea), Sideritis installation. The preparation of the field is carried out cladestina Chaub. & Borry (Taygetos's tea), Sideritis in the summer with a deep plowing shortly before euboea Heldr. (Euboa's tea), Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & planting, depending on the ground. Then, a milling or Heldr. (Parnassos's tea), Sideritis scardica Griseb. light plowing and a disc harrowing follows, mainly to (Olympus's tea), Sideritis syriaca L. syn. S. cretica control herbaceous plants and to facilitate planting Sibth. & Sm. (Malotira) (Chatzopoulou, 2012; (Goliaris, 1999). Shtereva et al., 2015; Latté, 2016). It is noteworthy The planting takes place in the middle of autumn after that studies focusing on cultivation, ecology and the first rain period or alternatively at the beginning of utilization of "Greek mountain tea" (genus Sideritis) spring. As far as the Greek conditions are concerned, in important and widespread Mediterranean agro- it is preferable in the autumn after the first rainy ecosystems, are scarce. Hence, the main aim of our season. The planting density is about 17.000-29.000 study is to present information about the cultivation plants per ha (0,70-1 m between the lines and 0,50 - and the aromatic and medicinal importance of "Greek 0,60 m on the lines) (Maloupa et al., 2013). If the mountain tea" (genus Sideritis spp.) and future planting take palace in spring and the soil is dry it is challenges suggested that irrigation of the new plants be carried once or twice, in order to minimize the loses. Sideritis types and plant morphology Species of the genus Sideritis belong to the Lamiaceae Asian J Agric & Biol. 2019;7(2):289-299. 290 Alexandra D. Solomou et al. Table 1. Morphological description and plant distribution of Sideritis species (Koutsos, 2006; Deligeorgidis et al., 2008; Evstatieva & Alipieva, 2012; Dordas, 2012; Dimopoulos et al., 2013; 2016). Species Morphological description Distribution Perennial herbaceous plant, up to 40cm high. Its stem is Sideritis clandestina simple or branched, and the leaves are fuzzy, with a (Bory & Chaub.) shadowy hue, oblong - speared, intact or saw - shaped, the Peloponnisos Hayek lower leaves with petiole and the upper epiphytic or with (Taygetos's tea) petiole. The calyx is bell-shaped, covered by dense bristles. Native to mount Athos and Samothraki. It is a perennial Sideritis perfoliata herbaceous plant, up to 40cm high. The stem is upright, North Aegean islands & North-East subsp. athoa (Papan. straight or branched and woody at its base. The leaves are Greece & Kokkini) Baden lanceolate and flowers are yellow in color. Also, the calyx is (Athos's tea) bell shaped. East Aegean islands ‒ present, East Central Greece, Ionian Islands, Annual herbaceous plant, up to 5-15cm high. A white thin Kiklades, Kriti and Karpathos, Sideritis fuzz covers all the parts of the plant. With one or more North Aegean islands, North curvidens Stapf straight green stems. The flowers are white and rare purple. Central Greece, North-East Greece,Peloponnisos, Sterea Ellas, West Aegean islands Perennial herbaceous plant, up to 30-50cm, with a dense and white fuzz all over the whole parts of the plant. Its stem is Sideritis euboea Heldr. strong, simple or sometimes branched. The leaves are West Aegean islands (Euboa's tea) elongated and the flowers are yellow colored. The calyx is tubular which ends in teeth and has fluff. East Aegean islands, Kiklades, Annual herbaceous plant, with white thin fuzz all over the Sideritis lanata L. North Aegean islands, North-East parts of the plant. The flowers are white with black spots. Greece, Peloponnisos East Aegean islands, East Central Annual or biannual herbaceous plant, up to 35cm. The stem Greece, Ionian Islands, North Sideritis montana L. is upright straight and woody in the base. The leaves are Aegean islands, Peloponnisos, simple and the flowers are yellow. South Pindos, Sterea Ellas, West Aegean islands It is a perennial herbaceous plant, up to 30- 50cm high. The North Aegean islands, North-East Sideritis perfoliata L. stem is green colored, straight or branched and woody at its Greece, South Pindos, North base. The leaves are lanceolate and flowers are yellow. Pindos, East Central Greece, Ionian Islands, North Central Greece, North-East Sideritis purpurea Perennial herbaceous plant up to 30cm high, with lanceolate Greece, Peloponnisos, South Benth. leaves. The flowers are yellow, white or purple. Pindos, Sterea Ellas, West Aegean islands Sideritis raeseri Boiss. Perennial herbaceous plant, up to 40cm high, with a thin North Central Greece, & Heldr. stem and lanceolate leaves and yellow colored flowers. The Peloponnisos, Sterea Ellas & South (Parnassos's tea) calyx ends in teeth. Pindos Perennial herbaceous plant, with a simple or branched stem. North Central Greece, North Sideritis scardica The leaves are lanceolate, intact or slight saw - shaped with Aegean islands & East Central Griseb.(Olympus's tea) white fuzz. The flowers are yellow colored and the calyx is Greece probably bell-shaped and covered with dense bristles. Native to mounts of Samos, Chios, Lesvos and Ikaria. Perennial herbaceous plant.