Ten different plants of wormwood were collected in March 1997 from each one of the following four wild populations in the Spanish Pyrenees: Tallo de Aulet (prov. Huesca) and Pont de Suert, Sort and Farga de Moles (prov. Lleida). In three of the four populations studied, there was another chemotype, with 25-65% of cis-epoxyocimene and 15-50% of chrysanthenyl acetate. This chemotype, called chemotype B, was less frequent in the Pyrenees than the chemotype A, appearing only in 17% of the samples (two samples in TallO de Aulet and in Pont de Suert and three samples in Farga de Moles).

Two chemotypes were detected; a cis-epoxyocimene type (with more than 50% of this compound) which was predominant in all the populations, and a cis-epoxyocimene + chrysanthenyl acetate type (with 25-65% of cis-epoxyocimene and 15-50% of chrysanthenyl acetate). The distribution of these chemotypes had no relation with the altitude of the samples.

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.

Plant material of A. verlotiorum was harvested near Marseille (France) in May (before blooming) and November (full flowering) 2000.

For the oil from the vegetative plants, 50 compounds, representing 99.8% of the oil were characterized. Fifty-nine compounds, representing 99.6% of the oil were identified in the oil from flowering plants. In both cases, the constituents were mainly oxygenated monoterpenes (74% and 88%). The composition of each oil showed only a few differences, as the main components were alpha-thujone (55% and 44%), 1,8-cineole (5% and 15%), beta-caryophyllene (13% and 7%) and beta-thujone (5% and 11%), in the oils of the vegetative plant and flowering plant, respectively. The proportions of the oxygenated compounds seemed to increase during flowering.

Four kinds of fresh sweet oranges were obtained in the same season, November 2000, in Guangzhou. Citrus sinensis var. Hongjiang (called 'hong jiang chen' in Chinese) and C. sinensis Osbeck var. Anliu (called 'luo gang chen') were obtained at an orchard in Luo gang in Guangzhou (25 km from the center of Guangzhou). Citrus sinensis var. Sihui (called 'sihui ju') was harvested at the Shigou Experimental Farm in Sihui City in Guangdong Province (75 km far away from Guangzhou). Citrus sinensis var. Washington navel (called 'qi chen') which was produced in Jiangxi Province (200 km from Guangzhou; bordering Guangdong Province), was purchased at the wholesale market in Guangzhou. All oranges were kept in a cold room until prepared a few days later.

The peel oil compositions of four kinds of sweet oranges in China, Citrus sinensis Osbeck var. Hongjian, C. sinensis Osbeck var. Anliu, C. sinensis Osbeck var. Sihui and C. sinensis Osbeck var. Washington navel, were investigated by GC and GC/MS. The essential oils were extracted by cold-pressing method. Forty-two to 53 compounds were quantitatively determined for each variety. Their percentages, respectively, were: > 97.3%, > 98.4%, > 97.5% and > 98.0% in hydrocarbons; > 1.5%, > 0.7%, > 0.8% and > 0.9% in total aldehydes; 0.8%, 0.5%, 0.5% and 0.5% in alcohols. Either cis-or trans-limonene oxide was detected in small amounts in each of the four samples, with Hongjiang containing both limonene oxides. delta-3-Carene was commonly quantified at a level of 0.1% in all the samples. The content of aliphatic aldehydes, including octanal, nonanal, decanal and dodecanal, exceeded that of terpene aldehydes, such as neral and geranial in Hongjiang (0.9%) and Washington navel (0.6%), whereas the aliphatic aldehydes in Anliu and Sihui were present to a lesser degree than the terpene aldehydes. Either alpha- or beta-sinensal was detected in trace amounts in each of the four samples. Linalool was the major alcohol in all the samples. Nootkatone was not detected.

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).

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.

The aerial parts of Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Boiss. were collected in the wild from Mehdi Abad (Kerman province, in southern Iran) at the flowering stage in June 2006. The material was dried at room temperature.

The 63 components of this interesting plant were identified in the oil of D. anethifolia, representing 94.0% of the oil. alpha-Pinene (11.6%), terpinolene(3.2%) and (z)-beta-ocimene (2.8%) were the main hydrocarbon components present in the oil, while decanal (54.0%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate(3.2%) and decanoic acid (1.3%) were the major oxygen-containing constituents.

The aerial parts of D. assadii Alava. were collected in the wild from Lalehzar (Kerman Province, in southern Iran) at the flowering stage, in July 2007. The material was dried at room temperature and used for distillation. Distillation: A direct-fired field distillation unit containing a distillation tank (capacity: 1,000 L), a condensation column and receiver, all made of stainless steel, and which can process 30-50 kg of dried aerial parts from the plants/batch, was installed at an altitude of 2600 m (boiling point: 87 ℃). Dried aerial parts from the plants (40 kg) were charged into the distillation unit along with 500 L fresh water and the unit was heated by steam. The system was kept open to atmospheric pressure until the temperature reached to 70 ℃, when the air present in the unit was replaced by the vapor. After complete removal of air from the unit, the air vent was closed and the whole unit was operated as a closed system under pressure to distill the oil. The pressure, temperature and rate of distillation were controlled manually. The process was completed after the collection of 500 L of water distillate. The oil collected in the receiver and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. Extraction of Ducrosia Second Oil From Ducrosia Water by Redistillation: The seprated distillate water collected in the receiver was redistilled in a 1,000 L still to yield more Doucrosia oil (this oil is known as secondary essential oil, second oil, cooked oil or indirect oil).

Fifty components were identified in a second oil of D. assadii from Lalehzar with decanal (35.2%), nonadecane (12%) and citronellyl acetate (11.6%) as the main constituents. The oil from Dehbakrii also contained decanal (36.4%) as the main component of an oil recovered from the distillate water. The results showed that the amount of decanal is remarkably high in the oils of D. assadii.

Fresh leaves of the E. camaldulensis varieties(var. mysore and var. Catharine) were collected from 12 mature trees growing in Agodi Gardens, Ibadan, Nigeria.

The quantitatively significant constituents in die leaf oil of the two E. camaldulensis varieties were beta-pinene (9.0-17.5%), 1,8-cineole (32.8-70.4%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (11.6%) and alpha-pinene (8.8%). Monoterpenoids also made up the bulk of the two volatile oils (89.0-95.7%).

Eucalyptus urophylla and E. grandis were collected in January (summer) and August (winter) 2006 at the mature vegetative state from Goiania city Brazil, and identified by one of the authors (E.P.F.). Leaves from 5-11 randomized individual plants of the same age representing the local population were collected as homogenous samples in each season, dried at room temperature.

The results were submitted to Principal Components and Clusters Analysis which enabled four groups of oils to be distinguished with regard to specimens and harvest seasons: clusters I and II with only E. grandis samples collected in the cold and dry winter and the hot and humid summer, which were characterized by a high percentage of isoleptospermone (9.6% and 13.2%), alpha-pinene (12.2% and 24.7%), p-cymene (20.5% and 14.5%), and alpha-terpineol (14.3% and 4.9%), respectively; clusters III and IV only associated with E. urophylla samples collected in summer and winter with 1,8-cineole (36.6% and 44.7%) and alpha-terpinyl acetate (7.0% and 11.7%) rich oils.

Unripe, semi-ripe, and ripe fruits of E. dysenterica were collected in rural area of Abadia de Goias city (S 16° 45′ 1″, W 49° 25′ 5″, 850 m), Goias State, Brazil, in October 2002.

Limonene (25.8% and 24.6%), (E)-beta-ocimene (20.3% and 21.7%) and beta-pinene (12.0% and 14.2%) were the major compounds in the unripe and semi-ripe stages, respectively, while gamma-muurolene (25.8%), beta-caryophyllene (18.4%) and alpha-humulene (15.4%) became the major compounds in ripe fruits. The concentration of monoterpenes was high in the unripe and semi-ripe stages and decreased afterwards, while sesquiterpenes were intensively synthesized only in the last part of the ripening process.

Fresh F.angulata were leaves gathered and air dried in May, 2004 and the seeds collected in October, 2004 from both habitats (Shahoo and Nevakoh Mountains), Kermanshah Province western Iran.

The oil yield from seed was 5-fold that from leaves (3.2%/100g compared to 0.63%/100g). Cis-ocimene was the major constituent of the seed oil from both regions (64.8% and 76.11%) and a prominent constituent (>20% of the total oil) of the leaf oils of both habitats. alpha-Pinene was the next main component (7-27%) of all 4 oils. Seed oils, with one major component (cis-ocimene), differed from the leaf oils, which were composed mostly of 3 components (alpha-pinene, cis-ocimene, & germacrene D). Distinctions between the oils of the two habitats were less marked than the leaf-oil/seed-oil differences; the cis-ocimene content was higher and alpha-pinene was less in both seedand leaf-oils of the Shahoo habitats than the Nevakoh ecotype; trans-verbenol was absent from the Shahoo leaves, but reached a content of 5.8% in Nevahoh leaf-oil. Further distinctions were found in the content/presence/absence of 20-30 minor components of the oils.

Whole leaves and inflorescences of two wild strawberry cultivars ('Rugia' and 'Baron von Solemacher') harvested in 2008 during the agrotechnical experiment performed by Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, were used as a material for determinations. Samples were collected before noon at sunny and dry days at the beginning of wild strawberry's flowering stage. Material was dried up to 35 ℃ in shadow and air just after the harvest.

Depending on a cultivar, air-dry inflorescences from wild strawberry contain from 0.21% ('Baron von Solemacher' cv.) to 0.30% ('Rugia' cv.), whereas leaves contains from 0.46% ('Baron von Solemacher' cv.) to 0.62% ('Rugia' cv.) of essential oils. GC/MS analysis of essential oils achieved from studied materials revealed presence of 70 (including 59 identified) compounds in leaves of 'Rugia' cv. and 58 (including 50 identified) compounds in leaves of 'Baron von Solemacher' cv. Essential oils from inflorescences of 'Rugia' cv. contained 52 (including 47 identified), while 'Baron von Solemacher' cv. contained 54 (including 46 identified) compounds. The chromatographic analyses by GC-MS revealed that myrthenol, nonal, linalool and phthalide dibuthyl dominated in essential oils obtained from leaves, while myrthenol, citronelol, linalool and geraniol - from those of inflorescences. There were qualitative differences between oil components at both studied materials and differentiation between both cultivars, as well.

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.

Aerial parts of H. altaicus Willd. (Novopokr.) plants were randomly collected from the wild at four different altitudes, as described below, during the 1999-2001 vegetation periods. All the collections of the plant samples were carried out during massive bud formation and the beginning of flowering. Sample # 1 (3.4 kg) was collected on July 14, 1999 from LAT: 53° 05′ LON: 85° 00′, 330 m, Altai Region, Troiszkii Raion, around the village of Taldinka, 4-5 km below the Bolshoi Rechke, facing southwestern Sopki, Tipchakovo-Heteropalusovo-Pavilnaya steppe. Sample # 2 (10.5 kg) was collected on July 28, 1999 from LAT: 51°, LON: 86° 40′, 600 m, Altai Republic, Ongudaiskii Raion, at the right side of the delta of Lake Ursup, surrounding Stepushka village, along the roadside. Sample # 3 (8.5 kg) was collected on July 30, 2000 from LAT: 51° 39′ LON:79° 59′, 120 m of Altaiskii Krai, Litovskii Raion, 2 km southwest of the Ustianka village, along the roadside. Sample # 4 (6.5 kg) was collected on August 2, 2001 at LAT 50° 11′ LON 87° 53′, 1550 m of Altai Republic, Kosh-Agachiskii Raion, 24 km away from Kurai village, towards North-Tchuiskoe mountain chain following the right side of lake Tete where there is a mixture of heavy weeds.

The oil obtained from 330 m had alpha-pinene (18.6%), myrcene (18.6%), beta-phellandrene (17.2%), (E)-beta-ocimene (12.9%) and germacrene D (11.9%), while samples from 600 m consisted of myrcene (26.4%), alpha-pinene (23.2%), beta-phellandrene (18.0%), (E)-beta-ocimene (9.9%), germacrene D (4.3%) and sabinene (4.2%). The oil from 120 m had -pinene (22.0%), beta-phellandrene (21.6%), myrcene (19.5%), trans-beta-ocimene (11.3%), germacrene D (7.2%) and limonene (4.5%) as major components. At 1550 m the major components were germacrene D (22.0%), myrcene (18.0%), beta-phellandrene (14.0%), alpha-pinene (11.3%) and (E)-beta-ocimene (9.2%).

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.

Samples of M. ericifolia leaves were obtained from 19 locations as follows: DL3104- 3110, Coopernook, New South Wales (NSW), 31° 49′ 31″ S, 152° 36′ 48″ E (Site No. 1); DL3114-3120, Hawks Nest, NSW, 32° 40′ 09″ S, 152° 10′ 12″ E (Site No. 2); DL3240-3244, Hexham, NSW, 32° 48′ 50″ S, 151° 42′ E (Site No. 3); DL3245-3249, The Entrance, NSW, 32° 22′ 24″ S, 151° 28′ 19″ E (Site No. 4); DL3397-3401, Tuggerah Lake, NSW, 33° 21′ S, 151° 27′ E (Site No. 5); DL3250-3254, Georges River, NSW, 33° 58′ 42″ S, 151° 00′ 14″ E (Site No. 6); DL3255-3259, Berry, NSW, 34° 46′ 37″ S, 150° 45′ 27″ E (Site No. 7); DL3260-3264, Lake Durras, NSW, 35° 36′ 00″ S, 150° 16′ 17″ E (Site No. 8); DL3265- 3269, Wallaga Lake, NSW, 36° 23′ 43″ S, 150° 03′ 04″ E (Site No. 9); DL3270-3274, Wallagoot, NSW, 36° 44′ 50″ S, 149° 55′ 46″ E (Site No. 10); DL3275-3279, Genoa, Victoria (Vic), 37° 25′ 56″ S, 149° 38′ 41″ E (Site No. 11); BVG3024- 3028, West of Lakes Entrance, Vic, 37° 48′ S, 148° 03′E (Site No. 12); BVG3014-3018, West of Lang Lang, Vic, 38° 13′ S, 145° 30′ 13″ E (Site No. 13); BVG3019-3023, East of Welshpool, Vic, 38° 38′ 28″ S, 146° 30′53″ E (Site No. 14); ACC1019/1-2, 5-7, Nelson on the Glenelg River, Vic, 38° 03′ S, 141° 00′ E (Site No. 15); KJ1-5, Airport Flinders Island, Tasmania (Tas), 40° 05′ S, 148° 00′ E (Site No. 16); KJ6-10, Lackrana Road Flinders Island, Tas, 40° 18′ S, 148° 06′ E (Site No. 17); ACR1848/1-3, Woolnorth Point, Tas, 40° 38′ 30″ S, 144° 43′ 30″ E (Site No. 18); JB4509, Robins Island Track, Tas, 40° 45′ S, 144°53′E (Site No. 19). The majority of samples were collected during June to December 1999 with the exceptions being sites 5, 15 and 18, which were collected during July to October 2000. Leaf material totaling about 100 g of fresh leaves and twigs was obtained mainly from five widely spaced individual trees per location.

Oil composition varied quantitatively throughout the species range rather than qualitatively in an apparent association with latitude of occurrence. Linalool and linalool oxide were abundant in the oils from the north of the species range in New South Wales with a gradual southerly decline in these compounds to central Victoria with concomitant increase in the proportions of 1,8-cineole, alpha-terpineol and limonene. The most southerly populations sampled in southern Victoria and Tasmania gave oils containing relatively high proportions of 1,8-cineole (mean 34.5%) and low proportions of linalool (3%). Four populations from the Central Coast of NSW (Coopernook, Hawks Nest, The Entrance and Tuggerah Lake) provided the greatest opportunity of identifying seed trees that combine the attributes required for plantation development. The tree that had the best combination of oil traits (DL 3116 from Hawks Nest) had an oil yield of 4.5%, a linalool content of 60% and a 1,8-cineole content of 16%.

The aerial parts of M. camphoratum were collected at Manaus, Amazonas (type A) and Vigia, Para, (type B).

The plants were collected from two different localities in the Amazon Region and their oils were found to be remarkably different. One oil obtained from the sample collected at Manaus was characterized by a high content of terpinolene (30.3%), limonene (13.8%) and delta-3-carene (13.2%). The main constituents found in the other oil distilled from a sample collected at Vigia were camphor (15.0%), alpha-phellandrene (20.5%) and beta-caryophyllene (8.9%)

Dry leaves of Menlba piperita L. 'Kliment-63' and 'Zefir' of 1997 crop were used.

The oil yield from 'Zefir' was 0.97% and that from 'Kliment-63' was 0.54%. The oil from 'Zefir' was found to be rich in menthol (46.2-50.2%) and menthyl acetate (16.8-22.5%). In the oil from 'Kliment-63,' the content of these components was lower, while the menthone content was higher (20.0-23.1%).

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.

The aerial parts of flowering Mentha spicata plants (cut at ground level) and individual M. spicata plants were collected in the summer (July, 2003) from three wild populations located in the Municipality of Laganas, Zakynthos, W. Greece. Location 1 (N 37° 39′ 39″, E 20° 48′ 44″; map datum WGS 84; altitude 160 m; 14/07/03) was near the village of Keri, Location 2 (N 37° 41′ 29″, E 20° 50′ 25″; altitude 3 m; 14/07/03) was close to Keri Beach (Limni Keriou) and Location 3 (N 37° 43′ 34″, E 20° 50′ 41″; altitude 35 m; 14/07/03) was near the village of Pandocratoras. The three locations are within the mainland limits of the protected area of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (NATURA 2000 Network, site GR 2210002; 8).

The main oil constituents were trans-piperitone oxide, piperitenone oxide and 1,8-cineole. On a whole plant basis (aerial parts) the trans-piperitone oxide content ranged from 1.4 % location (Loc 1) to 32.5% (Loc 3) and appeared to have an inverse relationship with the 1,8-cineole content which ranged from 10.8 % (Loc 3) to 37.9 % (Loc 1). 1,8-cineole was the major oil constituent (37.9 %) of M. spicata plants from Loc 1. The major constituent of the inflorescence oils was piperitenone oxide which ranged from 32.4 % (Loc 3) to 46.3 % of the oil (Loc 1). The major constituent of the leaf oils was 1,8-cineole (40.5 %) in plants from Loc 1 and trans-piperitone oxide in plants from Loc 2 (19.8 %) and Loc 3 (33.5 %). This is the first report for wild populations in Greece of a M. spicata oil in which 1,8-cineole is the major constituent. The observed variation in essential oil composition between locations and plant organs in July would not appear to be directly related to the climatic conditions.

Plant material: Leaves of M. spicata plants were collected from a wild population of Mt. Pangeon (alt. 600 m, 40° 55′ N/ 24° 12′ E). Collections were conducted every month during the growing period (April to October).

The oil content ranged from 0.1-1.8%, with the maximum values in late summer/early autumn. The essential oil obtained from the leaves was characterized by a very high content in linalool, i.e. 85.0-93.9% of the total oil (highest percentage in mid-autumn). Other oil constituents occurring in much lower amounts were germacrene D (up to 4.2%), beta-caryophyllene (up to 2.6%) and 1,8-cineole (up to 2.1%).

Biological material for these investigations comes from two distant collection sites: Suva planina (mountain in the east of Serbia) and Durmitor (mountain in Montenegro). All specimens (aerial parts of the plants) were collected in 1994 in the blooming stage and/or in the pre-blooming stage.

The results obtained show that though the yields of oils were barely influenced by plant growth stage, they varied appreciably according to the origin of the plant material: pre-blooming, Suva Planina (Serbia): 0.67%; blooming, Suva Planina (Serbia): 0.70%; blooming, Durmitor (Montenegro): 0.40%. Thirty-six components were identified. 1,8-Cineole was always predominant (60%); its concentration was lower (40%) just before blooming. Also present were germacrene D (2-15%), beta-caryophyllene (4-7%), alpha-terpineol (5-7%) and caryophyllene oxides (2-6%). In general, the chemical composition of N. nuda depended more strongly on growth stage than habitat. The only exception was caryophyllene oxide which was three times more abundant in the oil from Montenegro than in that from Serbia.

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.

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 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.

Seeds of Origanum majorana L. were collected from a wild population near the village of Vouni, Limassol district, Cyprus, in April 2000 (remaining seeds from 1999). The seeds were germinated and cultivated in the greenhouse under conditions of 24 ℃ day and 15 ℃ night temperature. Artificial light was supplied to complement daylight to a constant 14 h day length with 'full sunshine' (optimized assimilation programme). Plants of cultivated marjoram (Origanum majorana cv. 'Erfo', N.L.Chrestensen, Erfurt, Germany) were grown in parallel for comparison. The plants from the wild population were sampled at the stage of flower bud development in October, 2000. The plants of cv. 'Erfo' were not sampled and were not analyzed since they started to flower much earlier and, hence, could not be directly compared to the wild population.

Three chemotypes were detected in the population. Besides the standard 'marjoramy' composition ('sabinyl chemotype') with 74% of oil compounds belonging to the bicyclic compounds sabinene, trans- and cis-sabinene hydrate and cis-sabinene hydrate acetate ('sabinyl compounds'), two further chemotypes were present in the population, namely a pure alpha-terpineol chemotype (73% alpha-terpineol) and a mixed sabinyl/alpha-terpineol chemotype (41% sabinyl compounds, 40% alpha-terpineol). The chemotype frequencies found in this population were 56% of the plants belonging to the sabinyl chemotype, 4% to the pure alpha-terpineol chemotype and 40% to the mixed sabinyl/alpha-terpineol chemotype.

One-month-old rooted stem cuttings of three rosescented geranium cultivars, namely Bourbon type, CIM-Pawan and Kelkar were transplanted at 50 × 50 cm plant spacing in the experimental field of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Center Purara, Uttarakhand, in October 2007. Plants were irrigated immediately after transplanting and further crops were raised following the normal agricultural practices needed to grow the plant. The experimental site is located between the coordinates 28° 60′ and 31° 29′ N, 77° 49′ and 80° 60 m E, and at an altitude of 1250 m in the Kattyur valley. Climatologically, it is categorized as a sub-temperate (1200-1700 m) zone, where monsoon usually breaks in June and continues up to September. Sampling of the rose-scented geranium cultivars was started from March 2008 and taken on the tenth of every month until February 2009. Samples were collected in triplicate in each season. (A, cv. Bourbon type; B, cv. CIM-Pawan; C, cv. Kelkar; I, spring season; II, summer season; III, rainy season;IV, autumn season; V, winter season).

The major components in the essential oil of cv. Bourbon type were geraniol (14.1-34.6%), citronellol (15.2-31.3%), linalool (2.9-9.2%), citronellyl formate (4.4-9.2%), isomenthone (4.5-6.6%), 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol (4.7-6.7%) and geranyl formate (3.8-6.2%). The dominant constituents of the cv. CIM-Pawan essential oil were geraniol (11.9-31.9%), citronellol (16.1-30.2%), citronellyl formate (5.2-8.9%), linalool (3.7-6.4%), isomenthone (4.0-6.3%), 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol (4.4-5.2%) and geranyl formate (4.3-5.0%). However, the chemical composition and odor of cv. Kelkar was quite different from the other two cultivars and the major components found in this oil were citronellol (51.0-63.4%) and isomenthone (9.8-17.8%).

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%).

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%).

Seeds of P. ruderale were collected from wild plants found on the campus of the Federal University of Vicosa, Minas Gerais state (Brazil), in September 2000. The seeds were cultivated in a greenhouse during the period of February to May 2001; 60 days after sowing, the leaves and flowers were collected at regular intervals of 15 days for the oil isolation.

The oil content found for the leaves of P. ruderale varied during the period of 60 to 120 days, as follows: 13.8 mg/100 g of fresh material after 60 days; 7.5 mg/100 g (75 days); 23.1 mg/100 g (90 days); 10.6 mg/100 g (105 days); 12.5 mg/100 g (120 days). The first floral buds were collected after 105 days of sowing, and its oil content was 45.1 mg/100 g of fresh material. A significant decrease in the production of oil from the buds was observed after 120 days of sowing, when only 23.0 mg oil/100 g of fresh material was obtained. During the period of 90 days to 105 days, a significant decrease in leaf oil content was observed, at the same time the plants were flowering. This data suggests the plants were relocating their resources to produce more oil in the floral buds.

The plants from Shawieh were harvested four times in 1998 on different separate plants: at full flowering (March), after flowering (May) and at late flowering season (November). And in 1999 at full flowering (March).

The oil samples were found to be rich in alpha-pinene (18.8-38.5%) and 1,8-cineole (19.1-25.1%). The Lebanese oils had particularly high levels of alpha-terpineol (2.9-11.2%) and geraniol (1.8-9.3%). The maximum alpha-pinene content is related to flowering period. Although the results obtained did not indicate a large variation of oil composition in relation to harvest time (flowering and after flowering), some reproducible differences were noticeable.

The leaves of R. eriocalyx were harvested at random from two localities of the forest in the North and South ranges of Boutaleb in Algeria at different altitudes during the full flowering stage. Sample N3(Locality: Northern slope; Altitude (m): 850; Collection date: Mar 20,1993); Sample S3(Locality: Southern slope; Altitude (m): 850; Collection date: Mar 20,1993).

Concerning the alcohols, the highest amount of 1,8-cineole (11.4%) coincided with a very low amount of terpinen-4-ol(1.0%) in sample N3 as well as with a generally low concentration of hydrocarbons (apart from camphene and pinene) in all samples of R. eriocalyx.

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 were collected in Van and Erzurum in eastern Turkey. A) Van: Van to Ercis road 35th km on June 8, 2001 at an altitude of 1850 m. B) Erzurum: Campus area of Ataturk University on July 30, 2001 at an altitude of 1850 m.

Dried aerial parts of S. limbata collected from two localities in Turkey. Oils yielded similar compositions: 70-80% of the oil consisted of monoterpenes and 15-20% of sesquiterpenes. The Erzurum sample contained 3.7% of a diterpene identifi ed as 8,13-epoxy-15,16-dinor-labd-12-ene. Alpha-Pinene or 1,8-cineolerich Salvia oils are used as herbal tea in Turkey.

200 g of fresh flowering spikes were collected randomly at full bloom stage (browning of lower floret stage) from the 2006-2007 crops of clary sage cultivar CIM-Chandni cultivated at CIMAP Lucknow and resource center Purara, Uttarakhand. The oil of Kashmir origin was collected from the Chemistry division of IIIM Jammu.

Linalool (23.6%), alpha-terpineol (3.8%), linalyl acetate (51.2%), beta-caryophyllene (3.2%), germacrene D (1.3%) and sclareol (1.3%) were recorded in the oil S. sclarea cultivated in Lucknow UP while the Kashmir oil sample possessed the highest percentage of linalyl acetate (60.8%) and lowest linalool (14.5%) along with alpha-terpineol (1.8%), geranyl acetate (2.2%), beta-caryophyllene (1.9%), germacrene D (2.6%) and sclareol (1.3%) as the other minor constituents. In contrast, the oil of S. sclarea from Purara in Uttarakhand showed highest percentage of linalool (29.8%), alpha-terpineol (5.3%) and sclareol (2.3%) and the lowest linalyl acetate (45.7%) among all the three samples.

Satureja cuneifolia Ten. growing wild in Middle Anatolian provinces of Turkey were collected at various growth stages: a =from Konya, collected in June, before flowering; b = from Konya, collected in July, from flowering plants; c =from Konya, collected in August, full-bloom plants.

In the oils of S. cuneifolia, 38 compounds were identified, with thymol (43.6-65.5%), carvacrol (4.7-31.2%), gamma-terpinene (trace-13.7%) and p-cymene (trace-11.5%) being dominant.

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.

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.

Fresh aerial parts of the S. trilobata were collected from CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) in summer (vegetative stage), rainy (vegetative stage), autumn (flowering stage) and winter (flowering stage) seasons. The experimental site is located between coordinates 29.02° N, 79.31° E and an altitude of 243 m in foothills of northern India.

Volatile oil yield varied from 0.18 to 0.25% in different seasons, with the maximum in winter season. Altogether, 43 constituents, representing 96.1-97.3% of the total oil composition were identified. Major constituents of the oils were alpha-pinene (78.6-83.3%), alpha-phellandrene (1.3-4.1%), sabinene (1.4-1.9%), limonene (1.2-1.9%), beta-pinene (1.0-1.6%), camphene (0.7-2.0%), 10-nor-calamenen-10-one (<0.05-1.5%), germacrene D (0.1-1.4%) and gamma-amorphene (<0.05-1.3%). The comparative results showed no big differences in the oil composition of this plant due to season of collection.

Plant material and isolation procedure: Aerial parts of the plant were collected from two regions, from Kazeroon in southern Iran and Shahr-e-kord in western Iran at the time of flowering in June 2002.

The main components of the oil of S. pilifera collected from Kazeroon, in southern Iran, were spathulenol (15.8%), cis-chrysanthenol (15.3%), beta-caryophyllene (8.4%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (6.9%), while for the plant collected from Shahr-e-kord, in western Iran, they were cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (21.8%), linalool (18.9%), terpinen-4-ol (11.9%) and cis-chrysanthenol (9.2%).

Experimental site: Experiment was conducted to study the dry matter content and quality of oil obtained from different plant parts harvested at various growth stages [pre- flowering, 50% flowering, 100% flowering and post-flowering (beginning of seed setting)] at the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow (25.5° N, 80.5° E, 120 m altitude), India. The study area falls in the sub-tropical plains in the northern part of the country. The soil of experimental plot was a sandy loam. Plant material: Tagetes minuta plants were grown in 0.02 ha area during winter season of 2002-2003. Forty day-old seedlings of T. minuta were planted in rows 60 cm apart at 30 cm plant to plat distance within rows in the second week of December, 2002. The crop received fertilizers at the rate of 100 kg N, and 60 kg each of P₂O₅ and K₂O/ha. Nitrogen 40 kg/ha and full quantity of P₂O₅ and K₂O were applied before planting of crop. Remaining of nitrogen application was through topdressing in two equal splits, 30 days after transplanting and at pre-flowering stage. Tagetes minuta plants from 1.20 m row length were harvested from four different places in the experimental area at each date of study. The dates for pre-flowering, 50% flowering, 100% flowering and post-flowering (beginning of seed setting) were March 15, March 27, April 4 and April 18, 2003, respectively.

The maximum essential oil yield (1.01 g/plant and 56.1 kg/ha) was obtained upon harvesting at post fowering stage (seed setting stage). Advantage in essential oil yield at this stage was 130%, 34.5% and 36.5% yield enhancement over pre-flowering, 50% and 100% flowering stages, respectively. Flowers and leaves contained the maximum essential oil 2.14% and 1.89% (dry weight basis), respectively. Relative contribution of leaf, flower and stem to essential oil production was 40.7%, 37.8% and 21.5%, respectively. In the oil quality analysis, dihydrotagetone (77.1%) was the predominant component in oil from the leaves while (Z)-beta-ocimene, limonene and (Z)-tagetone were the major constituents in the flower oil. The study suggests that T. minuta should be harvested at the post-flowering stage for realizing maximum essential oil yield and its desirable major chemical constituents. The study also differentiated the quality of leaf and fower oil for chemical constituents.

The plants were cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the University of Agriculture, Plovdiv/Bulgaria on meadow-carbonate soil with neutral reaction (pH 7.1-7.2) and were harvested during the flowering period (July and September). The reserves of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil (NPK) were: NH⁴⁺ 31.42 mg/kg; NO^3- 16.66 mg/kg; P₂O₅ 12.3 mg/100 g and K₂O 11.4 mg/100 g. Ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen were extracted from the soil with a 1% solution of KCI and were determined by consecutive distillation on a Parnas-Vagner apparatus. Phosphorus was determined by the Egner-Ream method and potassium was extracted with 2 n HCI and was determined by flame photometry. The plants were grown as seedlings and were planted in a two-row bed 50 × (20 + 20) cm in patches of 5 m². A scheme on the increase was used for the introduction of N, P and K fertilizers. The experiment was carried out as a randomized block modus - 15 variants in 4 replications (6 levels for N and 4 levels for P and K). Phosphorus (triple superphosphate - 50 % active substance) and potassium (potassium sulphate - 50 % active substance) were introduced only once before planting. Nitrogen (the ammonium nitrate - 33 % active substance) was introduced in three portions - during preparing of the soil, during the plants drafting (active vegetation) and at the full bloom.

The highest oil yield was obtained from leaves in July for N4P2K4 (0.63%) and the basic components were piperitenone (29.4%) and piperitone (13.5%). The mineral fertilization had no effect on the oil yield from the flowers. Regardless of the variant, it was found that the flower oils in July were rich in caryophyllene oxide (12.0-48.4%) and piperitenone (3.0-7.0%), while the oil composition in September was different.

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.

The aerial parts of samples from collective populations of T. carnosus were collected during the vegetative phase (February 2000), at the beginning of the flowering phase (May 2000) and during the flowering phase (July 2000) at Quinta do Lago (Algarve). AQLM: collected in May, beginning of flowering phase; AQLJ: collected in July, flowering stage; AQLF: collected in Feb, vegetative stage.

All the oil samples collected in Quinta do Lago (QL) were dominated by borneol (26-31%) and camphene (9-18%), but the third main component varied according to the harvesting period. Bornyl acetate was the third main component (9-13%) in the flower oil and in the aerial parts oils collected in May and July, whereas terpinen-4-ol (8%) was the third main component in oil collected in February from vegetative phase plant material. A fourth main component, alpha-pinene (4-9%), was also present in relative high amounts in the QL oils.

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.

One-month-old rooted stem cuttings of three rosescented geranium cultivars, namely Bourbon type, CIM-Pawan and Kelkar were transplanted at 50 × 50 cm plant spacing in the experimental field of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Center Purara, Uttarakhand, in October 2007. Plants were irrigated immediately after transplanting and further crops were raised following the normal agricultural practices needed to grow the plant. The experimental site is located between the coordinates 28° 60′ and 31° 29′ N, 77° 49′ and 80° 60 m E, and at an altitude of 1250 m in the Kattyur valley. Climatologically, it is categorized as a sub-temperate (1200-1700 m) zone, where monsoon usually breaks in June and continues up to September. Sampling of the rose-scented geranium cultivars was started from March 2008 and taken on the tenth of every month until February 2009. Samples were collected in triplicate in each season. (A, cv. Bourbon type; B, cv. CIM-Pawan; C, cv. Kelkar; I, spring season; II, summer season; III, rainy season;IV, autumn season; V, winter season).

The major components in the essential oil of cv. Bourbon type were geraniol (14.1-34.6%), citronellol (15.2-31.3%), linalool (2.9-9.2%), citronellyl formate (4.4-9.2%), isomenthone (4.5-6.6%), 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol (4.7-6.7%) and geranyl formate (3.8-6.2%). The dominant constituents of the cv. CIM-Pawan essential oil were geraniol (11.9-31.9%), citronellol (16.1-30.2%), citronellyl formate (5.2-8.9%), linalool (3.7-6.4%), isomenthone (4.0-6.3%), 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol (4.4-5.2%) and geranyl formate (4.3-5.0%). However, the chemical composition and odor of cv. Kelkar was quite different from the other two cultivars and the major components found in this oil were citronellol (51.0-63.4%) and isomenthone (9.8-17.8%).