Intra- and interpopulation variability of Balkan endemic - Satureja kitaibelii based on n-alkane profile

Abstract

Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. is endemic species of central Balkan that lives along the Balkan mountains range. The aim of this research was to study the variability of n-alkane profiles of four S. kitaibelii populations growing wild in Serbia in regards to biogeography and chemotaxonomy. Using GC/MS and GC/FID, seventeen n-alkane homologues (C19–C35) were identified. n-Hentriacontane (C31) was dominant in all populations, except in population Djerdap and Rtanj were it was co-dominant with n-nonacosane (C29). Population Temšica and Poganovo also had high percentages of n-nonacosane and n-tritriacontane (C33). However, these two compounds had similar quantities in population Poganovo. Statistical analyses showed differences between studied populations based on n-alkane profiles. Moreover, geographically closer populations had a similar profile.