Intermedia Emeric Research Articles

Differential accumulation of volatile terpene and terpene synthase mRNAs during lavender (Lavandula angustifolia and L. x intermedia) inflorescence development

Despite the commercial importance of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and L. x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel floral essential oils (EOs), no information is currently available on potential changes in individual volatile organic compound (VOC) content during inflorescence development. Calyces were found to be the main sites of VOC accumulation. The 20 most abundant VOCs could be separated into three sub-groups according to their patterns of change in concentration The three groups of VOCs sequentially dominated the global scent bouquet of inflorescences, the transition between the first and second groups occurring around the opening of the first flower of the inflorescence and the one between the second and third groups at the start of seed set. Changes in calyx VOC accumulation were linked to the developmental stage of individual flowers. Leaves accumulated a smaller number of VOCs which were a subset of those seen in preflowering inflorescences. Their nature and content remained constant during the growing season. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction assessments of the expression of two terpene synthase (TPS) genes, LaLIMS and LaLINS, revealed similar trends between their patterns of expression and those of their VOC products. Molecular and chemical analyses suggest that changes in TPS expression occur during lavender inflorescence development and lead to changes in EO composition. Both molecular data and terpene analysis support the findings that changes in biosynthesis of terpene occurred during inflorescence development.

Scent Composition of Essential Oil, Concrete, Absolute and Hydrosol from Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.)

Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) oil has long been used in the fragrance and perfumery industry. Lavandin is a complementary crop to Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) for rose oil producers who need novel essential oil crops in Isparta region of Turkey. Although concrete, absolute and hydrosol are also produced from the lavandin flowers apart from lavandin oil, there are very limited studies on these products. The oil of var. Super grown in Isparta region was released from the glands in the flower inflorescences by steam distillation. Lavandin hydrosol (distillate water) was obtained from a by-product during the distillation. Concrete was extracted from the flower inflorescences using n-hexane, and subsequently by evaporation of the solvent in vacuum. Absolute was produced from the concrete with ethyl alcohol extraction. Essential oils from these products were analyzed on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Two major compounds were linalyl acetate and linalool, and the concentrations of both compounds were 47.7 % and 34.0 % in the oil, 46.6 % and 17.7 % in the concrete, 45.0 % and 17.2 % in absolute, respectively. Lavandin hydrosol contained 55.6 % linalool, but any linalyl acetate. Lavandin oil yield of the fresh inflorescences was about 1.2 % (5.8 % in dry flower heads). The yield of lavandin concrete was 0.9 % and the lavandin concrete gave 60 % of lavandin absolute.

Essential Oil Quantity and Composition from 10 Cultivars of Organically Grown Lavender and Lavandin

This study compared agronomic traits and essential oil quantity and quality of 10 cultivars of certified organically-grown lavender (Lavandula spp). Results reported are based on the second year of production and is the first report of organically certified lavender oils. Lavandin cultivars (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) produced significantly higher oil yield (7.1–9.9% dry inflorescences) compared to six lavender cultivars (2.8–5.0% dry inflorescences), with cultivars ‘Grosso,’ ‘Abriallii’ and ‘Super’ yielding the highest (9.9%, 9.0%, and 8.7%, respectively). Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) ‘Grey Lady’ produced the highest oil yield (5.0%), and ‘Lady’ the least (2.8%). All lavandins produced acceptable flowers for the dried market except ‘Provence’ whose flower color was pale purple. Lavender flowers from ‘Hidcote,’ ‘Munstead’ and ‘English’ were acceptable for the dried floral market. By year two, lavender cultivars reached full bloom and could be harvested for oil prior to the lavandins. Lavandin ‘Grosso’ oil possessed the highest camphor (8.1 as relative % of total oil). Enantiomeric distribution of (R)-(-) and (S)-(+) forms of linalool and linalyl acetate were found to be useful indicators of the purity of lavender oils.

In Vitro Fungistatic Effect of Essential Oils Against Ascosphaera apis

Different essential oils were tested against the fungus Ascosphaera apis, the causal agent of Chalkbrood Disease of honey bees. Essential oils from lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loiseleur), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), laurel leaf (Laurus nobilis L.), false camphor (Cinnamomum glandulifera Nees), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), tagetes (Tagetes minuta L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) were assayed to prove their fungistatic activity at different concentrations: 700, 800 and 900 μ.L/L. Strains of Ascosphaera apis were collected from apiaries of different places of Buenos Aires province (Argentina). At all concentrations tested, coriander oil was the most effective fungistatic control while basil and tagetes oils were effective only at 800 μL/L. No differences in effectiveness of oils were observed against the different strains of Ascosphaera apis.

The Effect of Sand Topdressing and Fertilizer on Inflorescence and Essential Oil Yield in ‘Dutch’ Lavandin

Abstract The yield of inflorescences and essential oil of ‘Dutch’ lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) was increased significantly with the addition of a 2.5-cm topdressing of white sand. Fertilization did not increase yields on a near-optimally fertile soil.