Abstract
Spike lavender, Lavandula latifolia Medik., is a species of economic importance for its essential oil (EO). The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of the variable climate and fixed factors such as soil and geographic location on EO yield and quality. The study material was collected in 34 populations from four different Spanish bioregions for three years. The EO extraction from spike lavender leaves and flowers was done with simple hydrodistillation, in Clevenger. Soil samples were also collected. Climate data were provided by the State Meteorological Agency. The EO average yield was obtained for the bioregion mean and in each bioregion. The higher EO yield is related clearly to the climate condition. A greater amount of annual rainfall produced a higher EO yield in the four bioregions and of better quality. Soils richer in organic matter and minerals produced higher EO yield but with less quality. The altitude had little effect on EO yield. Higher altitude favored obtaining higher EO quality. At lower latitude, further south, the populations obtained a higher EO yield. The evaluation of the environmental effect on the EO yield and quality could allow better natural conservation and more accurate selection of the best populations for breeding and spike lavender cultivation protocols.
Highlights
The genus Lavandula of the Lamiaceae family comprises about 39 species [1]
Of the 8 components that represent around 90% of the essential oil (EO), three components account for 80% of the EO: 1,8-cineole represents 36.62%, linalool 26.74%, and camphor 17.23%
Our results show that higher altitude favors obtaining plants with higher EO quality, more content in linalool and less in 1,8-cineole and camphor
Summary
The genus Lavandula of the Lamiaceae family comprises about 39 species [1]. This genus is made up of small perennial green shrubs, with aromatic flowers and forage from which essential oil (EO) can be obtained. In France, in 2018, 4662 ha of L. angustifolia Mill were cultivated with a production of 116.62 t of EO and 20,770 ha of Lavandin with a production of 1646.13 t of EO [3], which represents slightly more than 3 times kg/ha yield than lavender. The spike lavender (L. latifolia Medik.) is native to the Mediterranean region, growing wild mainly in the former Yugoslavia, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal [1]. It grows in forest clearings, especially in limestone rocky or dry pastures on sunny slopes, in basic substrates and alluvial sands [1]
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