The Effects of Induction of Autotetraploidy on the Essential Oil Content and Compositions of Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

Abstract

Induction of autotetraploidy in dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) had a significant effect on its essential oil content and compositions. The seedlings of dragonhead were treated with colchicine by applying dropping method in the stage of emergence of two true leaves. Ploidy level in the treated plants was estimated by flow cytometric analysis. The essential oils of both tetraploid plants and diploid parents were extracted by hydro distillation technique and were analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS. The essential oil content of herb was increased 27.5 % in tetraploid plants. 30 components were identified in the oils of both diploid and tetraploid plants. The major components of the oil of diploid plants were geranyl acetate (40.4 %), geraniol (16. 3%), Z-citral (14.1 %), E-citral (9.9 %), nerol (5.8 %) and neryl acetate (5.4 %), While the main components of the oil of tetraploid plants were geranyl acetate (36.3 %), geraniol (19.5 %), Z-citral (15.4 %), E-citral (9.1 %), nerol (5.5 %) and neryl acetate (4.7%).