Populations of A. annua cultivar 'Jeevanraksha' and accession Suraksha were grown in the experimental field plot of the Institute at New Delhi. The seeds were sown in January 2004, seedlings transplanted in late February 2004 and aerial parts (flowers, leaves and stems from the upper 0.5 m of crop canopy) sampled in late October 2004.

Ninety-seven compounds comprising 91.3% of the total oil of 'Jeevanraksha' were identified. Forty-three monoterpenes (56.6%), 32 sesquiterpenes (31.1%), and 2 diterpenes (0.2%) comprised bulk of the oil (87.9%). The oil was devoid of artemisia ketone and contained camphor (13.5%), 1,8-cineole (9.4%), trans-sabinol (7.1%), p-mentha-1(7), 5-dien-2-ol (6.3%), myrcene (4.7%), germacrene D (4.4%), (E)-beta-farnesene (3.9%), beta-caryophyllene (3.7%), dihydroartemisinic lactone (3.0%) and p-cymene (2.0%) as the major constituents. Eighty-six compounds representing 93.3% of the composition were identified in the Suraksha oil. This oil contained artemisia ketone (47%), 1,8-cineole (8.4%), camphor (5.9%) and alpha-pinene (5.2%) as the major components.

The aerial parts (~20 cm, 15-100 g) of A. campestris L. from ten different wild populations of Lithuania were gathered at the full flowering stage. Plant material was dried at room temperature (20-25 ℃). Oils (samples 1-10) obtained from Artemisia campestris plants collected at sampling sites (A-I,Y) characterized by locality, city (c.) or district (d.), soil type (Or, ordo; Sn, sand; Sl, sandy loam; Gr, gravel; Lm, loam) and description of natural habitat (Af, abandoned field; Fe, forest edge; Ct, cutting area; Mw, meadow; Rs, roadside; Rv, river valley): A (1) Birstonas c. (Or, Ct); B (2) Palanga c. (Sn, Fe); C (3) Nociunai, Kedainai d. (Or, Mw); D (4) Alytus c. (Sl, Rs); E (5) Moletai c. (Lm, Af); F (6) Kaltanenai, Sencionys d. (Gr, Fe); G (7) Merkine, Alytus d. (Sl, Ct); H (8) Trakai c. (Gr, Af); I (9) Druskininkai c. (Or, Rv); Y (10) Vilnius c. (Gr, Af).

The main chemical profile (ten samples) was characterized by the predominance of germacrene D (9.8-31.2%), while spathulenol, humulene epoxide II and caryophyllene oxide were found as the first major compounds in another three oils. One oil was determined as a mixed chemotype. Some compounds such as gamma-curcumene, alpha-cadinol, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, beta-ylangene, beta-selinene and humulene epoxide II have been mentioned for the first time among three principal constituents in A. campestris oils. The fifty-six components made up 73.6.1-98.5% of the total content, while the remaining twenty-six volatile compounds were identified in insignificant amounts in the A. campestris essential oils.

Aerial parts of endemic pichana were harvested in December 1996 at different localities of northern Patagonia. Origin: Planicie Banderita, Dept. Confluencia, Province of NeuquCn. Habitat: altitude, 327 m; average temperature in the station, 21.8 ℃; annual precipitation, 125 mm; sandy soils. Aerial parts (5 kg, 2 kg of dried material;humidity, 11%) from four well developed plants at the fullflowering stage (December, 1996). Sample 2 : Origin: RincBn de 10s; Sauces, Dept. of Pehuenclies, Province of Neuqukn. Habitat: altitude, 750 m; average temperature in the station, 20.9 ℃; annual precipitation, 147 mm; sandy and gritty salty soils. Aerial parts (5 kg, 1.85 kg of dried material, humidity, 10%), from two well developed plants at the full flowering stage, and after several days copious rains (December, 1996). Sample 3: Origin: Coronel GBmez, Dept. General Roca, Province of Rio Negro. Habitat: altitude, 242 m; average temperature in the station, 22.5 ℃; annual precipitation, 179 mm; sandy and stony soils. Aerial parts (4.5 kg, 1.3 kg of dried material, humidity, 9%), from 12 young plants at the beginning flowering stage (December, 1996).

Fifty-four components, representing approximately 84.6-97.4% of the oil samples, were identified. The samples consisted mainly of hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. The major constituents were limonene (28.7-56.7%), 6R-7R-bisabolone (3.2-9.1%), sabinene (0.1-11.0%) and citronellal (2.4-5.2%). Significant differences among the content of the three samples could be the result of changes in the climatic conditions (sample 2: Rincon de los Sauces, Province of Neuquen, after strong rains) or by translocations in different parts of the plant (sample 3: Coronel Gomez, Province of Rio Negro, more leaves and less stems).

Leaves were collected from in Botucatu/SP, Brazil. 'Point 1' is the Botanical Garden of UNESP classified by semideciduous seasonal forest 1 (SSF 1), 22° 53′ 10.97″ S 48° 29′ 48.92″ W and 888 m a.s.l. The same trees were observed on all points, during the seasons.

Copaiba plants from semideciduous seasonal forests show differences into the phytochemical profile obtained in dry and wet seasons, with presence of monoterpenes alpha-thujene, o-cymene, (Z)-beta-ocimene, (E)-beta-ocimene, gamma-terpinene and terpinolene in point 1 (in the wet season), while Cerrado strictu sensu did not show significant differences in chemical composition of volatile compounds (only alpha-cadinol and seychellene showed significant differences).

The leaves of C. sempervirens were collected in the region of central Dalmatia (Croatia) within 12 months (1999).

The oils produced in the autumn (September and October) were found to contain higher amounts of alpha-pinene (71.0% and 79.2%) than the oils produced from February to May (28.4-32.5%). The smallest amount of alpha-pinene (28.4%) was recorded in February, at the same time as the amount of cedrol, the quantitatively most important oxygenated compound, reached its maximum (12.9%).

General plantation of citronella cv. Java 2 was maintained following recommended agricultural practices at the Experimental Farm of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Field Station, Hyderabad, India. The experimental station has a semi-arid tropical climate. The experiment was conducted in the same plantation for 2 consecutive years during the summer month of June 1996 and 1997, when the incidence of the disease was higher. In each year, 12 each of healthy and diseased plants were selected at random and harvested. The occurrence of the disease is generally observed during the hot summer season months, when the temperatures are in the range 36-43 ℃. Initial symptoms of the pest attack appear as yellow specks or blotches, mostly along leaf margins, that in later stages develop into yellow streaks running along the length of the affected leaves. Emerging young leaves are pale green to yellow coloured, twisted, crinkled, developed into whip-like structures and in severe cases of infection fail to open. Even if they do open, these leaves fail to exhibit a smooth leaf surface. Severely affected older leaves turn brown, dry and die. The overall growth and development of the infected plant is severely affected, giving it a dwarfed and unhealthy appearance.

The essential oil examined by GC and GC-MS from cultivated healthy plants contained citronellal (28.4%), geraniol (24.8%), citronellol (11.8%) and elemol (10.2%). The major components from diseased plants were geraniol (19.0-25.5%), elemol (15.3-20.4%), citronellal (13.4-19.1%) and citronellol (12.9-15.1%). Caryophyllene oxide (3.5-6.0%) was an important minor component.

Wild growing D. graveolens samples were collected from Bekaa-877′ (4 samples) and Sannine-1842′ (3 samples) during the flowering period, between September and November of 2003.

The major differences in oil composition between the two populations are the variation in the concentrations of T-cadinol and borneol. The differences can also be ascribed to the distinct climatic pattern of the two samples: Sannine is located in the Mount Lebanon chain of mountains and characterized by heavy precipitations and snow, while the Bekaa valley is shielded by this same chain of mountains, resulting in dry summers and cold winters with less humidity and precipitations.

Plant selection and virological tests: Before effecting the collection procedure, heathy and infected plants of E. purpurea grown in the open field at the Herb Garden of Casola Valsenio were selected and labelled by visual inspection of their aerial parts. The infection by CMV was associated with symptoms on both leaves and flowers. The most characteristic symptoms are yellow mosaic, ring and line-patterns on crinkled and deformed leaves that drop prematurely. The flowers, which may be smaller than normal, show color breaking with white or pale stripes on red petals. Shortening of the internodes is also very common, giving the plant a bushy appearance known as stunting. In Italian environmental conditions, these symptoms are best visible in the summer. On the other hand, plants appeared symptom-free were collected as healthy material. Plant collection: About 3-4 Kg fresh aerial part materials (70% stems, 10% leaves and 20% flowers) of healthy E. purpurea plants were collected in June 2000 at almost the end of flowering. An equivalent quantity of CMV-infected plants (evaluated by DAS-ELISA) was also collected; the percentage of leaves in the infected infected was about 6.0% as due to CMV presence that caused the premature leaf drop.

The oil from healthy material was rich in germacrene D (57.8%) and was more abundant. The infected materials afforded a lower oil content and significant quantitative variations in the oil composition. In particular, the observed percentage of germacrene D (52.6%) was reduced as were other sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. These variations, tested to be significant for all the compound-class fractions and individual major components, were ascribed to the cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) infection, the only fixed-effect variable that might affect the oil composition.

Samples of Glechoma hederacea were collected at full flowering in seven localities in Vilnius district (Lithuania) at 2005: A - Salininkai, B -Zolyno, C - Mistunai, D -Antakalnis, E - Nemencine, F - Seskine, G -Zujunai.

More than half of the oils were rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (56.5-67.9%). The most predominant compound was germacrene D (14.1-20.7%). The other main constituents were gamma-elemene (9.0-16.0%), beta-elemene (8.7-12.9%), phytols (2.8-15.6%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (2.2-8.5%), 1,8-cineole (92.2-5.4%), beta-ylangene (2.7-4.1%) and germacrene B (2.2-3.9%). Forty-three identified compounds made up 89.1-96.2%. Four oils (A, D-G) might be attributed to germacrene / elemene chemotype and three samples (A-C) containing marked amounts of phytols beside above compounds were of germacrene/elemene/phytols chemotype.

The plant material was collected in eastern Lithuania (July-August, 2002). Numbers of growing localities of H. arenarium with yellow (Y) and orange (O) flowers were as follows: Svencionys district (Zalavas) and Ukmerge district (Sventupe).

The 68 constituents identified comprised 73.8-90.7% of the total oil content. It was found that the principal constituents were: beta-caryophyllene (in three inflorescence and one leaf oil), delta-cadinene (in two leaf oils), octadecane (in one leaf oil) and heneicosane (in one inflorescence sample). Monoterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes made up 4.0-13.9%, aliphatic hydrocarbons 0.4-35.3%, and sesquiterpenes 24.7-71.2% of the oils.

It was collected in Lujan, Ayacucho Department, San Luis, Argentina, in the vegetative flowering stage (February 1997) and at flowering-fructification (April 1996).

Flowering and flowering-fructification, did not differ in regard to the composition of analyzed sesquiterpenes but showed variation in the relative concentration of one of its constituents. Twenty-four compounds were identified, which represented 93-5% of the oil in the flowering stage and 92.5% of it in the flowering-fructification one. The oil was found to contain beta-caryophyllene (14.3-12.0%), germacrene D (14.7-15.3%), curzerene (11.5-12.7%) and bicyclogermacrene (12.1-14.2%) as major compounds.

The plant materials were collected for P1: 2900 m, Ait Akak, Oukaimden, Atlas Mts, Morocco, N. Achak, A. Romane and M. Mahroug, 3 trees, ns, 12/12/2003; P2, 2200 m, Plateau of Matat, Atlas Mts, N. Achak, A. Romane and M. Mahroug, 3 trees, ns, 18/03/2003; P3: 2000 m, Foret Islane, Oukaimden, Atlas Mts, N. Achak, A. Romane and M. Mahroug, 3 trees, ns,12/12/2003. A portion of the leaves from each of the three trees (per population) were air dried for 16 days at room temperature (ca. 22 &#8451) to produce the dried leaf samples.

The oil yields from fresh leaves showed on differences among geographical sources. Air dried leaves appeared to yield more oil at the highest elevation (1.03%, Ait Lkak, 2900 m) than lower sites (0.67%, Plateau of Matat, 2200 m; 0.57%, Foret Islane, 2000 m). The essential oils from each geographic site had very similar composition in fresh versus air dried leaves. The essential oils from provenance Ait Lkak and Plateau of Matat were very similar and characterized by a high sabinene content (21.2, 35.9%), in contrast to 10.% sabinene from the provenance Foret Islane. The oil from Foret Islane had a high delta-cadinene content with 12.7%, whereas Aik Akak and Plateau of Matat contained only 0.6 and 0.8%.

Plant material: Samples of L. latifolia were collected in August 1998 during the full flowering period (L/La) and in October 1998 during the fruiting period (L/Lb) from three different spike lavender populations located into the Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park (Jaen province, Spain). The plant material from each population consisted of the twigs of several single plants. L/La (Location: 'Garganta de Hornos', Altitude (m): 950, Harvesting date: August 14, 1998, Phenological stage: Flowering); L/Lb (Location: 'Garganta de Hornos', Altitude (m): 950, Harvesting date: October 15, 1998, Phenological stage: Fruiting).

The small amounts of linalool needed to match the standard can be reached in a natural way (from full flowering to fruiting) which means it is important to choose the most convenient time of harvest in the studied area.

Unripe fruits of M. pomifera were collected on the tree from a hedge in August 1999 located on state-owned land in Boone County, IA. Ripe fruits were collected from the ground at the same hedge in October 1999.

The most notable difference between the unripe and ripe fruits was the increase in hexyl hexanoate in the ripe fruit. Gamma-Cadinene and alpha-cubebene were the most abundant sesquiterpenoids.

Seedlings of M. quinquenervia were obtained by germinating seeds collected from trees in south Florida. Plants from each chemotype were obtained from vegetative cuttings from trees whose chemotype had previously been determined by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). All plants were transplanted into larger pots (11.4 L) when about 25 cm tall. These plants were fertilized with 90 g/pot Osmocote Plus 15-9-12, N-P-K (Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products, Marysville, OH) in a slow-release 'southern' formulation . Plants were grown in a screenhouse that received rainwater and daily irrigation from overhead sprinklers for approximately 6 months at which time the plants were about 1 m tall. Three times weekly, leaves were clipped from trees and brought back to the laboratory. As O. vitiosa is a known Xush-feeder, only the silky terminal 15 cm tip leaves of each tree were collected and either used for plant quality analysis or fed to larvae.

M. quinquenervia chemotypes were distinguished by the principal terpenoids E-nerolidol and viridiflorol using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Not only were the terpenoid profiles of the two chemotypes different but the viridiflorol leaves had greater toughness (1.2-fold) and reduced nitrogen (0.7-fold). When the larvae and adults were fed leaves of the E-nerolidol chemotype increased adult biomass (1.1-fold) and fecundity were found (2.6- to 4.5-fold) compared with those fed leaves of the viridiflorol chemotype. Regardless of the larval diet, when adults were fed the E-nerolidol chemotype leaves they had greater egg production compared with those adults fed the viridiflorol leaves. Moreover, adult pre-oviposition period was extended (1.5-fold) when individuals were fed the viridiflorol leaves compared with those fed the E-nerolidol leaves. By rearing the O. vitiosa weevil on the more nutritious chemotype plants these results assisted in the mass production and establishment of the M. quinquenervia biological control agent.

Peppermint plants were initiated from rhizome cuttings (10 cm long) supplied by Jahad Daneshgahi in March 2009. According to the method described by Farahani et al., (2009), seventy five peppermint samples were notified above were transferred into pots (25 cm head diameter × 20 cm height) filled with sandy loam soil (soil average amount of 5580 gr in each pot). This experiment was carried out using a randomized compllete block design with 3 replications. The factors studied included 5 levels of water deficit stress that were D1 (100% field capacity), D2 (85% field capacity), D3 (70% field capacity), D4 (60% field capacity) and D5 (45% field capacity), respectively. In order to determine the soil moisture rate of 100% field capacity, 24 h after irrigation we selected 5 field soil samples by sampling drill, then samples were weighed by electrical scale and placed under 105 ℃ in electrical oven for 48 h. Field soil samples were selected for determination of soil moisture rate daily, than determined 85% field capacity, 70% field capacity, 60% field capacity and 45% field capacity, respectively.

Results indicated that drought stress motivated a significant reduction in all of the growth parameters and essential oil yield and percent. The highest values of growth parameters and essential oil percent and yield were observed under 100% field capacity (control). Also, the highest values of Mentone and menthofuran were obtained under 100% field capacity (control) and the highest values of menthol were obtained under 70% field capacity by using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).

Mentha rotundifolia leaves were collected in the second week of November 2004 in two localities of Algeria (Rouina: altitude 250 m, Miliana: altitude 780 m) within the region of Ain-Defla located in northern Algeria.

Thirty-nine compounds were identified in leaf oil of sample 1 (Rouina, Algeria), the main one being cis-piperitone oxide. Thirty-nine compounds were identified in leaf oil of sample 2 (Miliana, Algeria). The main one being piperitenone oxide.

Aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens Benth, Ocimum basilicum var. dianatnejadii Salimi at flowering stage were collected from plants grown in Experimental Station of Pykan Shahr, near Tehran. Elevation 1215 m above sea level, latitude 35° 42′ North, 51° 8′ East, average humidity 36% and climatic category semi-arid.

Methyl chavicol (43.0%) and linalool (28.9%) were identified as the major compounds in the oil of O. basilicum var. purpurascens, while methyl chavicol (37.6%), linalool (33.4%) and alpha-cadinol (5.7%) were the major constituents in the oil of O. basilicum var. dianatnejadii.

Seeds of Ocimum basilicum cv. keskenylevelu provided from Hungary, were used in this study. Potted seedlings of Ocimum basilicum were subjected to study the effect of different irrigation rigimes on the essential oil content and composition at experimental farm of college of agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres, University, located in Tehran. (1215 m above sea level, latitude 35° 43′ north, altitude 51° 8′ east). The seeds were sown in spring of 2001 in pots. The irrigation regimes to induce of water stress were: 100%, 85%, 70% and 55% of field capacity. This percentage of field capacity kept constant in the soil by daily weighting of pots. The soil was sandy-loam with 22.6% of field capacity. The harvest of whole plants was performed at the beginning of the flowering stage.

The essential oil content of herb increased from 1.12 to 1.26% as plant water deficit increased (till 70% of field capacity). The number of component of the oil of Ocimum basilicum increased as water stress increase. Amount of the main constituents of the oil such as linalool, methyl chavicol, 1,8-cineole and trans alpha-bergamotene significantly affected by water stress.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was separated in two experiments performed in our research station Campus Rural of The Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Sao Cristovao city, Sergipe State, from December 03, 2002 to April 28, 2003. First harvesting: The first harvesting (Experiment 1) was performed 40 days after seedlings transplantation during full bloom on 03/06/2003. Harvesting was performed cutting plants at 20 cm height from the soil. The collected material consisted on separating leaves and inflorescences from the stalk. In the first experiment only used leaves in the analysis. Randomized block design in a 3x4 factorial scheme with three replications was used. Each plot was composed of five plants. Treatments were: three harvesting periods (8:00; 12:00, and 16:00 h) combined with three drying temperatures (40, 50, and 60 ℃) and fresh leaves. Second harvesting: To perform the second harvesting (Experiment 2) we collected the regrowth of plants used in Experiment 1. Plants were harvested fifty three days after the first harvesting (on 04/28/2003) at 8:00 h using the same procedures as the first one; however both leaves and infl orescences were used in the analysis. Randomized block design with three replications was used. Treatments were drying periods of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 16 days for leaves and infl orescences in ovens with air renewal and circulation (Marconi model MA-037/5) at 40 ℃.

Harvesting performed at 8:00 h and 12:00 h provided higher essential oil yield. After five days drying, the concentration of linalool raised from 45.18% to 86.80%. O. basilicum should be harvested during morning and the biomass dried at 40 ℃ for five days to obtain linalool rich essential oil.

The 36 'Genovese' and 24 'Foglia di Lattuga' samples preliminarily analysed were grown in Tavazzano (MI), and harvested at flowering, from 5th to 10th August 1998. The breeding program started in 1999, by crossing several selected lines of 'Genovese' with 'Foglia di Lattuga' and 'Compatto'. Selected F1 plants were selfpollinated in 2000. Plants of the F2 (2001), F3 (2002) and F4 (2003) generations were selected on the basis of agronomic and morphologic traits, and self-pollinated. Only the seeds from self pollinated plants with satisfactory essential oil content and composition were used to obtain the next generation. In 2004, some F4 plants were replanted in order to evaluate their stability in relation to environmental variations. All leaf harvests were carried out at flowering.

Genovese' showed higher essential oil and linalool content, with almost total absence of methyl chavicol, very abundant in 'Foglia di Lattuga'.

The study was conducted in North-Central Anatolia under semi arid conditions. Seeds of 18 basil landraces (O. basilicum L.) were collected from local farms and home gardens in Turkey. To examine essential oil composition of the basil landraces without environmental influences, the plants were grown under identical (same environmental and soil conditions) conditions. Seeds were sown on a medium (1:1:1 washed sand, horse manure and field soil) in greenhouse conditions on March 25, 2003. Seedlings were grown until the 3-5 leaf stage. The seedlings were transplanted into pilots in the Gaziosmanpasxa University Experimental Research Station on May 15, 2003. The plants were harvested at the full blooming stage and dried at 35 ℃ for essential oil isolation.

Variation of essential oils in the landraces was subjected to cluster analysis, and seven different chemotypes were identified. They were (1) linalool, (2) methyl cinnamate, (3) methyl cinnamate/linalool, (4) methyl eugenol, (5) citral, (6) methyl chavicol (estragol), and (7) methyl chavicol/citral. Methyl chavicol with high citral contents (methyl chavicol/citral) can be considered as a 'new chemotype' in the Turkish basils.

Plant material and horticultural practice: The experiments were conducted at the Universidade Federal de Lavras between November 2005 and January 2006. Seeds of O. selloi were sown in commercial substrate [Plantmax (Eucatex, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil)] contained in 72-cell plastic trays and maintained in the greenhouse under intermittent nebulization for 60 days. Seedlings were transplanted to 10 L pots containing a substrate consisting of soil, matured cattle manure and sand (5:3:2), and cultivated under three different light regimes, namely, full sunlight, and sunlight with blue or red shading. Each treatment was repeated seven times and two plants were employed per repetition.

The compositions of the oils varied according to the quality of light. Although the qualitative profiles of the oils of plants grown under full sunlight or red shading were similar, that obtained from plants grown under blue shading presented a larger number of constituents. The highest level of methyl chavicol (93.2%), the major component of the oil, was observed in plants grown under full sunlight.

Experimental: Two hundred grams of healthy mature intact leaves were harvested from each of the taxa growing on their own rootstocks at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center. flocc = P. americana var. floccosa from Mexico D-7; stey = P. americana var. steyermarkii from Mexico El Salvador 3-22-16; nubi = P. americana var. nubigena from Guatemala 45-C-1; mex = P. americena var. drymfolia from Tasco, Mexico; guat = P. americana var. guatemalensis cult. Nimlioh from Florida; bwl = P. ameticana var. americana cult. Trapp from Florida.

Analysis of oils showed the presence of over 90 components, of which 76 were identified. P. schiedeana oil was found to contain alpha-pinene (23.7%), beta-pinene (23.2%) and beta-caryophyllene as major components. The major constituents of P. americana var. floccosa and P. americana var. steyermarkii were alpha-pinene (10.9%, 7.6%), beta-pinene (20.6%, 10.4%), alpha-terpineol (9.6%, 7.9%), beta-caryophyllene (12.6%, 8.4%), viridiflorene (0.1%, 10.3%) and globulol (0.1%, 9.2%), respectively. The oils of P. americana var. nubigena and P. americana var. drymifolia contained alpha-terpineol (18.4%, 393%) and methylchavicol (12.4%, 40.2%), as major components, respectively. P. americana var. guatemalensis was found to be rich in beta-caryophyllene (38.3%), while the oils of P. americana var. americana and P. primatogena contained alpha-pinene (27.5%) and beta-pinene (40.9%), and alpha-pinene (24.6%), beta-caryophyllene (20.7%) and germacene D (10.1%).

Five different populations of P. spicatus were collected in different geographical regions of the northeast of Brazil. Populations I: (Locality: Morro do Chapeu,Bahia, harvesting: 02.19.94); Populations II: (Locality: Maranguape,Ceara, harvesting: 06.01.97); Populations III: (Locality: Jacobina,Bahia, harvesting: 02.19.94); Populations IV: (Locality: Cocalzinho,Ceara, harvesting: 02.22.94); Populations V: (Locality: Sitio dos Moreiras,Pernambuco, harvesting: 02.22.94)

The aliphatic ketones 2-undecanone, 2-tridecanone and 2-pentadecanone were present in samples of all populations. 2-Tridecanone (1.7-84.7 %) was detected in 30 out of 34 samples analyzed. It was the main component in all samples of root barks, except one where 2-pentadecanone (24.7%) was the major component. 2-Undecanone, beta-eudesmol and sabinene were the major components of leaf oils.

The branches of pine were collected in July, 1996 in 15 different locations in Lithuania in the following regions: Western part (Silute, Jurbarkas, Kursiu Nerija), Eastern part (Salcininkai, Zarasai, Moletai), Southern part (Varena, Trakai, Radviliskis) and central part (Ukmerge, Jonava, Kaisiadorys). The branches in each location were collected from the trees in approximately 1 km radius.

More than 70 constituents were identified (64 positively and 10 tentatively) in the oils. alpha-Pinene (18.5-33.0%) and delta-3-carene (9.1-24.6%) were dominating constituents with the only one exception when the germacrene-4-ol content in one of the samples was 13.2%. The important bornyl acetate content varied from 0.5% to 3.0%. The main sesquiterpenes were beta-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, delta-cadinene, gamma-cadinene, germacrene D-4-ol, cubenol (2.0-5.1%) and alpha-cadinol (1.9-7.7%).

Samples of R. officinalis were collected in April 1998 during the full flowering period (Ro-1a), between June and July 1998 during the fruiting period (Ro-1b) and in December 1998 during the hibernation period (Ro-1c) from Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park (province of Jaen, Spain). The plant material consisted of ca. 10 twigs per plant (with blossoming tips or not, depending of the harvesting date) from 5-10 single plants. Ro-1a (Location: Las Chozuelas, Altitude (m): 1150, Harvesting date: April 21, 1998, Phenological stage: Flowering); Ro-1b (Location: Las Chozuelas, Altitude (m): 1150, Harvesting date: June 19, 1998, Phenological stage: Fruiting); Ro-1c (Location: Las Chozuelas, Altitude (m): 1150, Harvesting date: December 30, 1998, Phenological stage: Hibernation).

The highest oil yields (161.8%) were recorded during the fruiting period (summer). In general, minimum amounts of camphor and maximum amounts of alpha-pinene were observed in winter. The concentration of 1,8-cineole was almost constant throughout the year, though other oil constituent levels varied randomly with the plant life cycle

S. aucheri var. aucheri was collected in Karaman: Ermenek to Mutt Road on July 19,1995; Salvia aucheri var. canescens was collected in Karaman: Ermenek, Tekecati Valley on July 19,1995.

Eighty components were characterized in the Salvia aucheri var. aucheri oil, with camphor (21.1%), 1, 8-cineole (20.3%), borneol (7.8%), spathulenol (6.3%) and camphene (5.3%) as major constituents. 1, 8-Cineole (25.2%), camphor (17.9%), borneol (10.6%), alpha-pinene (5.4%) and camphene (5.3%) were identified as major constituents among the 88 components characterized in the oil of Salvia aucheri var. canescens.

Aerial parts of both varieties(Salvia euphratica Montbret et Aucher ex Benth. var. euphratica and Salvia euphratica Montbret et Aucher ex Benth. var. leiocalycina) were collected in Malatya, Turkey in June 1999.

Ninety-five compounds in var. euphratica and 94 compounds in var. leiocalycina were characterized representing 93% and 95% of the total components detected, respectively, with 1,8-cineole (13.8% and 15.2%) and myrtenyl acetate (15.9% and 13.9%) as main constituents.

Fresh plant materials were obtained in 2004 and 2005. S. thymbra 1(vegetative stage: just before flowering, date: June 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 2(vegetative stage: full flowering, date: July 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 3(vegetative stage: after flowering, date: Aug 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 4(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Sept 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 5(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Nov 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 6(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Feb 7, 2005, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 7(vegetative stage: before flowering, date: May 7, 2005, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. parnassica 8(vegetative stage: before flowering, date: June 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 9(vegetative stage: just before flowering, date: July 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 10(vegetative stage: full flowering, date: Aug 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 11(vegetative stage: after flowering, date: Sept 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800).

It is evident that the phytochemical content of the essential oils for both Satureja species varied greatly, depending on the period examined, and showed large prevalence of phenolic content. It must also be pointed out that regardless of the vegetative stage of the plant collected, the sum of the two isomeric phenol monoterpenes (carvacrol and thymol) and their biosynthetic monoterpene precursors p-cymene and gamma-terpinene represented always the bulk of each essential oil (~76%). More specificallysfor both species-during their premature vegetative stage, gamma-terpinene constitutes the major component of their essential oils. The approach of the flowering period results in the simultaneous gradual diminishment of monoterpene precursors and the prevalence of their phenolic metabolites. Thus, essential oils obtained from plants collected during the 'just before their flowering' stage contain thymol as their major component, which constitutes 27.88 and 38.51% of the total oil content for S. thymbra and S. parnassica, respectively. On the other hand, during their full flowering period carvacrol prevails as the major component, accounting for 39.10% for S. thymbra and for 34.61% for S. parnassica. The end of the flowering stage delineates a sharp decrease of carvacrol levels and the predominance of thymol as the major component of the essential oils. A few months later, as the premature vegetative stage approached, the level of gamma-terpinene was restored. The content of p-cymenesthe other major monoterpene precursor-fluctuated seasonally in a manner similar to that shown by gamma-terpinene. Other monoterpene hydrocarbons such as myrcene and alpha-terpinene were also detected in smaller quantities, whereas various monoterpene alcohols such as linalool, borneol, and terpin-4-ol were found mainly in the oils obtained after the flowering stage. Finally, it is notable that the oils obtained during the just before the full flowering period contain beta-caryophyllene as one of their major components.

Fresh plant materials were obtained in 2004 and 2005. S. thymbra 1(vegetative stage: just before flowering, date: June 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 2(vegetative stage: full flowering, date: July 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 3(vegetative stage: after flowering, date: Aug 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 4(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Sept 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 5(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Nov 7, 2004, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 6(vegetative stage: fruiting, date: Feb 7, 2005, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. thymbra 7(vegetative stage: before flowering, date: May 7, 2005, location: Mt. Immitos, altitude(m): 350); S. parnassica 8(vegetative stage: before flowering, date: June 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 9(vegetative stage: just before flowering, date: July 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 10(vegetative stage: full flowering, date: Aug 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800); S. parnassica 11(vegetative stage: after flowering, date: Sept 16, 2004, location: Mt. Parnon, altitude(m): 1800).

It is evident that the phytochemical content of the essential oils for both Satureja species varied greatly, depending on the period examined, and showed large prevalence of phenolic content. It must also be pointed out that regardless of the vegetative stage of the plant collected, the sum of the two isomeric phenol monoterpenes (carvacrol and thymol) and their biosynthetic monoterpene precursors p-cymene and gamma-terpinene represented always the bulk of each essential oil (~76%). More specificallysfor both species-during their premature vegetative stage, gamma-terpinene constitutes the major component of their essential oils. The approach of the flowering period results in the simultaneous gradual diminishment of monoterpene precursors and the prevalence of their phenolic metabolites. Thus, essential oils obtained from plants collected during the 'just before their flowering' stage contain thymol as their major component, which constitutes 27.88 and 38.51% of the total oil content for S. thymbra and S. parnassica, respectively. On the other hand, during their full flowering period carvacrol prevails as the major component, accounting for 39.10% for S. thymbra and for 34.61% for S. parnassica. The end of the flowering stage delineates a sharp decrease of carvacrol levels and the predominance of thymol as the major component of the essential oils. A few months later, as the premature vegetative stage approached, the level of gamma-terpinene was restored. The content of p-cymenesthe other major monoterpene precursor-fluctuated seasonally in a manner similar to that shown by gamma-terpinene. Other monoterpene hydrocarbons such as myrcene and alpha-terpinene were also detected in smaller quantities, whereas various monoterpene alcohols such as linalool, borneol, and terpin-4-ol were found mainly in the oils obtained after the flowering stage. Finally, it is notable that the oils obtained during the just before the full flowering period contain beta-caryophyllene as one of their major components.

Plant materials were collected from the following localities. A: Antalya: Alanya, Sapadere, Beldibi-Baskoy in July 1991 (ESSE 9562). B: Icel: Anamur, Kas yaylasi in July 1991 (ESSE 9192).

Thirty-nine components were characterized in each oil representing 85-90% of the total components detected with beta-pinene (34-35%) and alpha-pinene (24-25%) as major constituents.

The aerial parts (~35 cm) of each taxa growing wild in eight localities of Almeria province were collected in May 1996. All samples were collected at full flowering. Sideritis pusilla (Lange) Pau ssp. pusilla var. typica, Population/location (UTM): Los Matarines (30SWF7992); Sideritis pusilla ssp. pusilla var. carthaginensis Font Quer, Population/location (UTM): Rambla del Hacho (30SWF7178); Sideritis pusilla ssp. pusilla var. granatensis (Pau) Font Quer, Population/location (UTM): Gafarillos (30SWG8702); Sideritis pusilla ssp. almeriensis (Pau) Malagarriga var. typica, Population/location (UTM): Sierra de Gador, Cerro de los Lobos (30SWF3575); Sideritis pusilla ssp. almeriensis var. littoralis Font Quer, Population/location (UTM): Los Morales (30SWF6775); Sideritis pusilla ssp. almeriensis var. salina Font Quer, Population/location (UTM): Los Pedregales (30SWG7835); Sideritis pusilla ssp. flavovirens (Rouy) Malagarriga, Population/location (UTM): Velez Rubio, Cerro del Huezno (30SWG8965); Sideritis pusilla ssp. osteoxylla (Pau) Pallares, Population/location (UTM): Cabo de Gata, Cerro de S. Miguel (30SWF7165)

Monoterpene hydrocarbons, alcohols, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes were the main constituents in all samples. Among these, alpha-pinene (7.1-25.4%), sabinene (5.9-20.4%), fenchone (0.9-19.3%), limonene (1.2-7.4%) and 1,8-cineole (1.8-15.6%) were the major compounds. The results confirm that there are differences between varieties and subspecies, while cluster analysis revealed that the oil composition potentially has chemotaxonomical significance for this taxon.

Aerial parts of Solidago virgaurea plants were randomly collected from the wild at two different altitudes, as described below, during the 2000 vegetation period. All the collections of the plant samples were carried out during massive bud formation and the beginning of flowering stage. Sample # 1, LTS00-46; 10 kg of the sample was collected on July 31, 2000 at LAT: 51° 07′ LON: 81° 10′ HEI 290 m from Altai land, Lokteev district, near the village of NovoMikhaylovskoe, on the left bank of the Aley River, outskirts of pine forest, fire area, sandy soils. Sample # 2, LTS00-57; 5.6 kg of the sample was collected on August 3, 2000 at LAT 51° 14′ LON 82° 28′ HEI 650 m from Altai land, Kur'in district, around the Kolyvanm quarries, with diverse turf grasses, along the river bank of Aley.

The main components from 290 m were alpha-pinene (36.5%), myrcene (14.8%), beta-caryophyllene (10.5%), germacrene D (8.2%), beta-pinene (7.1%) and limonene+beta-phellandrene (6.4%). The oil from the sample collected at 650 m had benzyl benzoate (57.0%), beta-caryophyllene (6.3%), germacrene D (6.0%), alpha-pinene (4.4%) and alpha-humulene (4.0%) as major components, suggesting polymorphism or the existence of different chemoytpes.

The aerial parts of T. chamaedrys were collected at the flowering stage in June 2004 near Corti, Corsica, France and near Oristano, Sardinia, Italy

The Corsican and Sardinian oils of T. chamaedrys investigated in this study were qualitatively similar but they differed by the amount of their major components. The major components were beta-caryophyllene (29.0% and 27.4%, respectively) and germacrene D (19.4% and 13.5%, respectively), followed by alpha-humulene (6.8%) and delta-cadinene (5.4%) in the Corsican oil and by caryophyllene oxide (12.3%) and alpha-humulene (6.5%) in the Sardinian oil. These quantitative differences are also noticeable on the amounts of the different class compounds. Especially, the monoterpene hydrocarbons amounted for 10.3% and 4.1% in Sardinian and Corsican oils respectively and the oxygenated sesquiterpenes amounted for 18.9% and only 7.4% in both oils, respectively. Both oils were qualitatively rather similar in comparison with those reported in the literature from various geographic regions. However, among the 87 components identified in this study, 47 minor components (< 0.6%) reported were identified for the first time in T. chamaedrys oil. This study confirms the quantitative variability of the major components according to the plant origin.

The aerial parts of T. flavum were collected in different periods from December to July 2006, from plants growing along the Ionic coast of Sicily (Italy). LF 1-LF 2-LF 3: represent the composition of leaf oils of plant samples collected in December (vegetative stage), February (pre-flowering stage) and April (budding stage) respectively; FL: flower oil; FR: fruit oil.

Some components, in all investigated plant parts, remained more or less constant during all the different phases of the plant cycle life. Worthy of note, considering the leaf oils, was that beta-pinene, limonene and germacrene D increased in the pre-flowering stage, while a series of esters and alpha-copaene, beta-caryophyllene, viridiflorol, Tmuurolol and phytol increased in the budding stage (LF3); the vegetative stage oil is generally characterized by a rich chemical composition and some constituents such as isoamyl hexanoate, alpha-humulene, bicyclogermacrene, beta-bisabolene and alpha-bisabolol reached their highest levels in this oil. In the flower oil, linalool and 1-octen-3-yl acetate were the main components compared to the amounts found in the other oils. Fruit oil composition was relatively oil poor, with beta-bisabolene, caryophyllene oxide, cadin-4-en-1-ol and phytone as the major constituents.

Plant materials were collected from the following localities in north western Turkey. A = Trabzon: Caykara, Soganli dag on July 28, 1994; B = Bayburt: Caykara, Mohakambo yaylasi on July 25, 1994; C = Trabzon: Koprubasi, Vizara yaylasi on July 20, 1994.

One hundred and four compounds were identified representing 97.5-99.5% of the total components detected in thymol/carvacrol (50.14/10.67%), thymol/linalool (23.14/20.24%) and linalool/alpha-terpinyl acetate/geraniol (21.55/16.70/11.17%) rich oils.

Aerial parts of the plant were collected from four localities: A = Kirklareli: Karadere in May 1991; B = Kirklareli: Karahamza Village in May 1990; C = Kirklareli: Evciler Village on 13 June 1993; D = Kirklareli: Korukoy on 25 May 1994

The four oils obtained from plants collected in different localities of the same region gave quite different compositions as follows: A: thymol (10.5%), 1,8-cineole (9.96%), p-cymene (9.48%), carvacrol (5.28%); B: beta-caryophyllene (29.50%), carvacrol(20.59%); C: thymol (34.7%), beta-caryophyllene (12.74%), carvacrol (5.24%); D: beta-caryophyllene (56.48%), germacrene D (11.12%), carvacrol (4.85%). Since the identities of the plant materials were checked repeatedly, any misidentification is ruled out. Except for A and C, all the other materials showed beta-caryophyllene as the major constituent. Carvacrol (20.59%) was present in good amount in the oil of B. In A, however, high percentages of 1,8-cineole (10%) and p-cymene (9.5%) were significant. This oil contained only a trace amount of beta-caryophyllene. Four isomeric caryophyllene alcohols were detected in the oil B. The results clearly indicate that the oil of T. striatus var. interruptus has no consistency and we can safely suggest that there are at least three chemotypes, namely thymol/1,8-cineole/p-cymene-type; thymol/beta-caryophyllene-type; and beta-caryophyllene-type, of this species.

Grape pomaces and stalks of Nero d'Avola and Frappato were donated by the ''Valle dell'Acate'' wine firm, Acate, RG, Italy - those from Nerello Mascalese and Cabernet Sauvignon were given by the ''Emanuele Scammacca Barone del Murgo'' wine firm, Santa Venerina, CT, Italy. The winemaking procedures were similar for all samples, namely grape clusters were crushed and destemmed using a destemmer-crusher. The crushed grapes were treated with sulphur dioxide (0.2-0.5% total mash) and with selected strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to start up the fermentation. After 6-8 days of maceration, when alcoholic fermentation was finished, the mash was pressed. Stalks coming from destemming procedure and grape pomace coming from the maceration procedure were subjected to the distillation procedures within 24 h of their collection. All materials were collected during the 2004 vintage.

On the whole, 38 components have been characterized in the samples of grape pomaces, with Frappato cv. showing the richest composition; instead, 88 components have been detected in the stalks of Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties.