ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are an important plant group recognized for their high ecological value and economic importance due to their diverse therapeutic and culinary properties. Environmental fluctuations and climate changes as well as the over-exploitation of these natural resources represent major stress conditions that negatively affect the genetic resources of medicinal plants. In this chapter, the authors report a literature review on the effects of different stressful conditions on the natural distribution and productivity of Origanum taxa, one of the best known and most used medicinal plants around the world. In comparison to other Lamiaceae groups such as Thymus and Salvia, Origanum taxa shows limited stress tolerance, and consequently, is under serious threat. At this level, the findings reported in this chapter are of great importance for the conservation of genetic resources of this plant group, and in the improvement of herbs and secondary metabolites production in Origanum taxa under controlled conditions.
