Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Azad Islamic University, Science and Research Branch
2 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands P.O.Box 13185-116, Tehran, Iran
3 Tarbiat Moallem University, Mofateh Ave.Tehran, Iran
Abstract
To investigate quality and quantity of essential oil of Thymus kotschyanus in greenhouse and field cultivation, seeds of four populations of this species from Azarbayejan, Sirachal, Mianeh and Tabriz were collected and cultivated in greenhouse and field condititions. Kelevenger method was used to extract the essential oils from the plants foliage. Essential oil components were analysed and recognised by GC and GC/MS.
The components included Thymol, Carvacrol and r-cymene.The highest main percentage of Thymol(65.94%), and r-cymene(20.40%), were found in Azarbayejan population and Carvacrol (53.14%), in Sirachal population.
The oil yeilds of Thymus kotschyanus in field were higher than greenhouse conditions, but Thymol and Carvacrol were decreased and other monoterpenes were the major components of the essential oils in greenhouse conditions. In field conditions, the percentage of r-cymene was high, comparing to greenhouse condition, but g- terpinene was trace.This problem can be related to temprature and other conditions in field and greenhouse conditions. On the other hand, these differences between the oil composition of the greenhouse, and field grown populations, may reveal a common route of formation the components in the species.
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