Abstract
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) exhibits significant chemical variability. This study characterized the chemical composition of 49 accessions of O. basilicum collected from different parts of Ethiopia using GC–MS. Results of this analysis revealed the presence of 46 compounds. Four compounds (eucalyptol, linalool, estragole, and eugenol) were found in all accessions, and seven compounds were found in large quantities of more than 10 %; methyl cinnamate (41.9 %), geraniol (27.9 %), linalool (25.41 %), eugenol (23.08 %), β-bisabolene (23.03 %), eucalyptol (17 %) and estragole (16.6 %). Cluster analysis grouped the 49 accessions into four chemotypes. Chemotype A consisting of eugenol/ estragole/ eucalyptol/ β-bisabolene), chemotype B (eucalyptol/estragole), chemotype C (linalool/geraniol) and chemotype D (methyl cinnamate/linalool). The results of this study indicated that the compounds found in Ethiopian O. basilicum accessions are highly diverse. Overall, the results of this study will provide scientific basis for future breeding programs of this crop.
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