Chemotaxonomic Evaluation by Volatolomics Analysis of Fifty-Two Genotypes of Myrtus communis L.

Marianna Usai,Maurizio Mulas,Mauro Marchetti,Nicola Culeddu

doi:10.3390/plants9101288

Marianna Usai, Maurizio Mulas + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101288

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Abstract

A population of 52 genotypes of Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), selected in the framework of a domestication program and growing in the same collection field at Oristano (Central Western Sardinia, 39°54′ N 8°35′ E), was analyzed by GC/MS for leaf essential oil composition. The chemical composition of essential oils was quite variable with a number of compounds ranging from 31 to 78 depending on cultivar. One hundred and eighteen compounds were globally identified in the various genotypes. However, α-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, and linalool always resulted as main components with few differences among samples. Minor compounds have been the determining factors in differentiating or associating genotypes in the outputs of a principal component analysis (PCA), where the results of another analysis of fruit essential oils of the same genotypes were also jointly used. Genotypes were discriminated according to mother plant characterization or ecological variables, such as site altitude, soil nature, and presence or absence of calcareous soils in the substrate of the localities of origin.

Highlights

Myrtus communis L. (Myrtle) is a wild aromatic plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family
Some parts of the plant are used in the food industry for flavoring meat and sauces, and its leaves have been extensively used in perfume and cosmetic industries [3,4]
We considered the differences in essential oils from the leaves of 52 different candidate clones collected from accessions of M. communis L. preserved in a collection field at the University of Sassari (Fenosu)

Summary

Introduction

(Myrtle) is a wild aromatic plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. This medicinal species is native across the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia, Western Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. It is the only European genus of the Myrtaceae family, which largely spreads in tropical and subtropical areas, and it is cultivated in gardens in Mediterranean-type climates, due to its fragrant flowers, the leaves and berries are scented [1]. Myrtle has been intensively studied for its essential oil obtained from the whole aerial part of the plant [5], leaves [3,6], flowers [3], and berries [4]. The main compounds in leaf and flower essential oils are α-pinene, linalool, and 1,8-cineole, while myrtenyl acetate is often the main compound in white berry essential oil [7,8,9,10]

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