Fresh aerial parts of A. biebersteinii were collected in May and June 2009 at different developmental stages (vegetative, floral budding, flowering and fruit set)from its natural habitat in the Dizin zone, northwest of Tehran, Iran (Latitude: 36° 4′ 52″N, Longitude: 51° 22′ 46″ E, Altitude: 2325-2425 m).

All oil samples from different plant parts and phenological stages were mostly made up of monoterpenoid compounds (88.6 - 99.6%), especially oxygenated ones (52.4 - 82.4%). The oil of the vegetative stage contained high amounts of limonene, 4a-alpha,7-alpha,7a-alpha-nepetalactone, p-cymene and 1,8-cineole. The major constituents in the flower budding stage oil were found to be limonene, 1,8-cineole and 4aalpha-7beta-7aalpha-nepetalactone. In the oil of the fruit set stage, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate were the predominant constituents. On the other hand, the most important compounds from the stem oil were 4a-alpha,7-alpha,7a-alpha-nepetalactone, 1,8-cineole, 4aalpha-7beta-7aalpha-nepetalactone and camphor. 4aalpha-7alpha-7aalpha-nepetalactone, limonene, 1,8-cineole and cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol were found in high concentration in the oil of leaves, whereas 4aalpha-7alpha-7aalpha-nepetalactone, 4aalpha-7beta-7aalpha-nepetalactone, limonene and p-cymene were present in large amounts in the oil of flowers.

In vitro cultivation of Arabidopsis wildtype and mutant plants: Seeds were sterilized according to standard lab routines (EtOH, NaOCl/NaOH) prior to aseptical (in vitro) cultivation in 500 ml screw cap jars on MS medium (4.3 g/l; 50 ml/jar) containing Bacto- and Phytoagar (1:2; 6 g/l) and 30 g/l sucrose. Ten seeds were pipetted into each jar and plants grown for 6 weeks until flowering at a temperature of 20 ℃ under a 16/8 h day/ night regime using fluorescent tubes (Osram Lumilux Plus Eco 36 W). Both Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype plants of ecotype Columbia-0 (Col) and 4 Col-derived T-DNA knock-out mutants (homozygous lines) showing deficiencies in the GLS biosynthesis pathway were used in this study (five parallels for wildtype and mutants): TGG1 (Atg526000; Salk_130469), TGG2 (At5g25980; Salk_038730), Cyp83A1 (At4g13770) and Cyp83B1 (At4g31500; Salk_028573). Greenhouse-cultivation of Arabidopsis ecotypes: The following Arabidopsis ecotypes were used in the study: Columbia (Col), Cape Verde Islands (Cvi), Landsberg erecta (Ler) and Wassilewskija (Ws). Single plants were greenhouse-cultivated on fertilized soil (P-Jord; Emmaljunga Torvmull AB) in plug trays (9 × 6 cells) at a temperature of 20 ℃ (three parallels for each ecotype). Due to the 6-weeks growth period (November/December 2003), the plants were cultivated under a 16/8 h day/night regime using metal halide lamps (Osram HQI-T 400 W) placed 130 cm above the trays. Depending on the ecotypical plant development, whole plants were sampled after 3-4 weeks right before bolting for in vivo studies, while investigations of single plant organs (leaf, stem, inflorescence) were carried out after 5-6 weeks of cultivation.

Metabolites from methionine, leucine and phenylalanine-derived glucosinolates were most abundant (4-methylthiobutyl, 4-methylpentyl, 2-phenylethyl). In addition, 24 monoterpenes, 26 sesquiterpenes and 12 aromatic structures, predominantly observed in inflorescenses, are described. Excluding the vast group of straight chain aliphatic structures, a total of 102 volatile compounds were detected, of which 59 are reported in Arabidopsis thaliana for the first time, thus emphasizing the sensitivity and applicability of solid-phase microextraction for volatile profiling of plant secondary metabolites.

Fresh plant samples of A. arborescens growing in Sicily were collected from five different sites: Petru (N 37° 59′ 46″, E 13° 38′ 53″, 69 m); Diga (N 37° 57′ 23″, E 13° 39′ 05″, 198 m), Felice (N 37° 56′ 44″, E 13° 36′ 38″, 484 m), Torto (N 37° 57′ 53″, E 13° 46′ 30″, 55 m) and Artese (N 37° 58′ 28″, E 13° 44′ 13″, 10 m) in January 2010.

Forty-three compounds, accounting for more than 92% of the oil, were identified. Monoterpene fraction with the exception of Petru population was higher than the sesquiterpene fraction. beta-Thujone (20.5-55.9%), chamazulene (15.2-49.4%), camphor (1.3-10.7%) and germacrene D (2.3-3.4%) were the main compounds.

Leaves from mature plants of Artemisia nilagirica var. septentrionalis, before flowering, were collected from different altitudes in Himachal Pradesh such as Shimla (2210 m), Mandi (1044 m) and Manali (2050 m) in June 2005.

The major constituents of the oil show variation with changes in altitude. At lower, middle and higher altitudes, the major constituents of the oil were caryophyllene oxide (28.6%), borneol (35.8%) and camphor (46.9%), respectively. The percentages of alpha-humulene and trans-beta-guaiene also increased, but the percentage of sabinene, trans-sabinene hydrate, 4-terpineol, caryophyllene oxide and humulene epoxide-II decreased with an increase in altitude. The characteristic compounds observed in the plants from lower altitudes were 2-hexene-1-ol, beta-thujone, thujanol, myrtenol and linalyl acetate, while the higher altitude plants were characterized by the presence of alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, gamma-gurijunene, germacrene-D and farnesol.

Fresh leaf samples of C. salignus were collected on the campus of University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa and Empangeni (Both in KwaZulu-Natal Province) , South Africa.

1,8-Cineole (63.4%), alpha-pinene (17.8%) and E-(beta)-ocimene (6.7%) were the major constituents identified in the KwaDlangezwa sample (Sample A). The Empangeni sample (Sample B) contained only 1,8-cineole (85.4%) and alpha-pinene (6.2%) as the main compounds present in the oil.

Fresh mature lime fruits were harvested from experimental orchards of I.I.H.R., Bangalore at six ripening stages: Peel color; Dark Green, Light Green, Color Turning, 1/2 Yellow, 3/4th Yellow and Full Yellow.

The constituents of lime oil mainly belong to two categories: hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds. The hydrocarbons were 85.4% of the peel oil isolated from full yellow fruits compared to 57.5% in green fruits. The most abundant monoterpene hydrocarbons, limonene and beta-pinene, showed gradual increase during ripening of lime fruit and they together accounted for 70.7% in full yellow fruits. Organoleptically important oxygenated compounds (neral, geranial, linalool and geraniol) were found to be rich in oil isolated from the peel of green fruits (29.7%); however, it decreased to 8.4% when color of the fruit turned to full yellow. Neral and geranial were found to be high in the peel oil of green fruits (7.8%) compared to full yellow fruits (2.5%).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The investigation was carried out on kumquat [Fortunella japonica Lour. Swingle] cv. Ovale, grown in an experimental orchard located in central western Sardinia (Italy), receiving standard horticultural practices. Fruits were randomly harvested in March, when commercially mature (total soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio = 5.24) and delivered to the laboratory immediately after harvest. Medium-size fruits free from defects were selected, placed into boxes (100 fruits per box), and grouped into two treatment groups of three boxes each (replications). The fruits of the first group were untreated (control fruit), whereas fruits of the second group were subjected to a standard treatment, water dipping at 50 &#8451 for 2 min, for extending the postharvest life of kumquat fruit. Dip treatment was performed as described previously. After treatments, fruits were allowed to dry at room temperature and stored for 21 days at 17 &#8451 and ca. 80% relative humidity (simulated shelf-life conditions). All analyses were performed following treatments and at the end of storage.

The concentration of the essential oil and the relative percentage of the individual components of the essential oil were not affected by HWD except for the minor compound p-menta-1,5-dien-1-ol, which increased after HWD.

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%).

H. pectinutu is an odoriferous plant and occurs as a natural weed on the Fiji Islands and in West Africa as a winter hardy bush. In India, it grows as an erect perrennial shrub in Assam, Bengal and Madras regions. Tlie leaves are ovate and the leaf margins range from crenate to serrate. The flowers are pale purple to yellow in cymose clusters, arranged unilaterally. The nutlets are small, oblong and black.

The major compounds present in the Indian oil were sabinene (27.8%), beta-pinene (6.7%), limonene (4.03%), alpha-terpinolene (6.0%), caryopliyllcne (17.2%), alpha-bergamotene (4.1%) and a C20H32-diterpene (5.8%). Other major hydrocarbons present were gamma-terpinene (1.4%), alpha-humulene (1.1%), beta-selinene (1.0%) and gamma-elemene (2.7%). The oil is rather poor in oxygenated terpenoids, the only major oxygen compounds detected were terpinen-4-ol(3.1%), spathulenol(1.1%), an unidentified sesquiterpene alcohol (1.4%) and trans-alpha-bergamotot (2.5%). The total oxygenated compounds constituted about 11% of the oil.

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.

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%)

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 M. biflora collected during November 1993 and June 1994 were used for the investigation.

The major constituents of the oil were neral (25.3-32.2%) and geranial (26.7-41.3%). The oil produced in the winter was found to contain higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes than the oil produced in the summer.

Myrtle (M. communis var. italica) aerial parts were collected monthly during 2006-2007 from Jbal Stara of Haouaria region in North Tunisia, belonging to a subhumid bioclimate.

In conclusion, high fluctuations were observed in the oil yields and composition of different parts of Myrtus communis var. italica during all the collecting periods. They could be explained by genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, significant differences were revealed in the main oil compounds. alpha-Pinene percentages showed the most remarkable changes among the different part oils. So, leaf oils contained more alpha-pinene than those of the fruits and stems during the myrtle vegetative cycle.

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.

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.

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%).

Leaves were collected from P. dioica trees (fruiting - 4, non-fruiting - 4, unknown - 4) located in Shawbury, St. Ann during the month of August. Trees which had been observed in excess of 30 years to be fruiting or nonfruiting trees and young pimento trees of unknown fruiting ability which had not yet blossomed were selected.

Oil yields obtained from the leaves of non-fruiting pimento trees (2.13%) were on average lower than that recorded for the fruiting trees (2.67%), although when the t-test was employed there was no statistical difference between the two (p< 0.05). Since the aim of this study was to investigate the aroma differences in the bearing and non-bearing pimento trees, analyses of the essential oils were confined to the more odoriferous volatile components, the monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids. Compounds exhibiting significant differences in composition at p < 0.005 were alpha-thujene, myrcene, alpha-phellandrene, gamma-terpinene and terpinolene while eugenol was significantly different at p < 0.01. With the exception of eugenol, the other significantly different components of the leaf oil exhibited a ratio of approximately 2:1 for the bearing to non-bearing pimento trees.

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%).

The cultivars selected for this study are Sreekara, Vellanamban and one Indonesian cultivar Kutching grown in Kerala. These cultivars are commonly cultivated in the northern parts of Kerala. The fresh berries of the authenticated cultivars were collected from Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut and were dried in a cross flow drier at 45 ℃ and taken for the analysis.

The main components of vellanamban oil were sabinene (3.9-18.8%), beta-pinene (3.9-10.9%), limonene (8.3-19.8%) and beta-caryophyllene (28.4- 32.9%). Sreekara oil contained as major compounds beta-pinene (0-11.2%), limonene (20.1-22.1%) and beta-caryophyllene (16.8-23.1 %). Kutching oil contained alpha-pinene(2.3-5.4%), sabinene (6.7-13.3%), limonene (14.5-17.5%) and beta-caryophyllene (20.8-39.1%).

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.

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

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.

Seeds of Iranian native savory were obtained from the seed bank of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran, and were sown in the field on 30 March 2000. Plants were 0.2 m apart with 0.5 m between rows. For the water stress study, each plot, four rows wide and 10 m long, with four replications in a randomized complete block design, was irrigated regularly with furrow irrigation. The timing of irrigation (frequency and duration) was based on the soil water potential, according to treatment criteria. Soil water potential was monitored using sensors and leaf water potential was measured using a pressure chamber. Five irrigation treatments were determined, consisting of: (a) a control, which was irrigated to full field capacity (FC) during the growing season; (b) two moderate water stress treatments (66% of FC) during vegetative and flowering stages; and (c) two severe water stress treatments during the vegetative and flowering stages (33% of FC). Because the severe treatment during the vegetative stage resulted in stopping of plant growth and adaptation, this treatment was omitted from our studies. For each treatment, measurements of plant height and fresh and dry weight were monitored by destructive harvests of eight randomly selected plants from the centre rows of each plot during the full flowering period. Plants were harvested at the soil surface, immediately weighed (fresh weight) and then oven-dried at 75 ℃ for 48 h and reweighed (dry weight). Also, for essential oil contents, the aerial parts of eight selected plants were collected and air-dried in the shade for 24 h and then were evaluated. All essential oil concentrations reported are based on the harvest of all aerial parts from whole plants.

The accumulation of oil increased significantly under severe water stress at the flowering stage, when the mean leaf water potential decreased from -0.5 to -1.6 MPa. This treatment affected the quantity of the essential oils more than moderate water stress during the vegetative and flowering stages. The main oil constituents are carvacrol and gamma-terpinene. The amount of carvacrol increased under moderate stress, while gamma-terpinene content decreased under moderate and severe water stress treatments.

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.

Solanum lycopersicum L. seedlings were grown from commercial seeds (cv. ACE 55 VF). Seeds were surface sterilized by gently shaking them in a 1% NaClO solution for 5 min and rinsed successively 10 times for 5 min in sterile demineralized water. The seeds were pregerminated in seed trays containing autoclaved peat substrate in a climate-controlled chamber (16 h photoperiod at a light intensity of approximately 300 µmol m^-2 s^-1 photosynthetically active radiation, 23-25 ℃ and 60% Relative Humidity). Ninety-five percent of the seeds germinated at 5 seeds/pot, after one week all the seedlings were showing the apical bud and two cotyledons. Seedlings were then selected for uniformity (plant height and number of leaves) from a large population, and were individually transplanted to 1200 ml pots containing autoclaved soil:sand mix (1:2, v/v). Half of the seedlings received the mycorrhizal treatment as described below. Mycorrhizal colonization of germinated tomato seedlings was induced by transplanting the plants into pots containing autoclaved substrate mixed with inoculum. Mycorrhizal plants (AM): plants were inoculated with 20 ml of Endorize IV commercial inoculum containing Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Glomus sp., infective units not specified (Biorize, Dijon, France) . Plants were supplied weekly with 20 ml/pot of Long Ashton nutrient solution with half of the content of phosphorus .We attempted to obtain mycorrhizal plants (AM) with size and tissue nutrient content similar to those of non-mycorrhizal plants (NAM) by supplementing NAM plants with more phosphate, since AM symbiosis enhances P uptake and this may alter the plant response to drought . Moreover, the use of plants with similar size allows the detection of drought direct effects not mediated by plant size when working with plants in containers, since unequal plant size can be responsible of differences in soil water depletion and plant transpiration, and consequently plants can be exposed to unequal stress. Thus, not mycorrhizal plants were grown on the same autoclaved substrate, without inoculum material, and supplied weekly with 20 ml/pot of full-strength Long Ashton solution containing 41 ppm of P.All of the seedlings were maintained in a climate-controlled chamber (16 h photoperiod at a light intensity of approximately 370 µmol m^-2 s^-1 photosynthetically active radiation, 23-25 ℃ and 60% Relative Humidity). One month after inoculation, plants were transferred to 3 L pots filled with the sterile substrate and kept in the climate chamber described above. Plants were watered with tap water and fertilized as indicated above.To induce an almost natural, reversible drought stress, thus allowing the plant enough time to acclimate, irrigation was stopped 24 h before measurements were taken. These treatments resulted in moderate water stress (lower than -2 MPa). Two stems, each containing 5-6 mature leaves, and one apical stem were selected in each plant for jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. In the JA treatment, the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of six leaves from two different branches were sprayed until runoff with a solution of 0.5 mM of JA (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The solution was prepared by dissolving JA in acetone and them diluting this mixture with water to 1 mM. Approximately 1.5 ml of JA solution, corresponding to 0.157 mg of JA, were sprayed onto each single leaf. JA-treated leaves were isolated with a protective plastic that prevented the rest of the plant from being treated. The plastic was removed after the spray has dried. Treatments were coordinated so that all plants were tested approximately 14-15 h after JA application to avoid any diurnal effects.Two months after inoculation, gas exchange and VOCs measurements were performed.

Root colonization by AM fungi favoured the leaf production of essential isoprenoids rather than nonessential ones, especially under drought stress conditions or after JA application.

Solanum lycopersicum L. seedlings were grown from commercial seeds (cv. ACE 55 VF). Seeds were surface sterilized by gently shaking them in a 1% NaClO solution for 5 min and rinsed successively 10 times for 5 min in sterile demineralized water. The seeds were pregerminated in seed trays containing autoclaved peat substrate in a climate-controlled chamber (16 h photoperiod at a light intensity of approximately 300 µmol m^-2 s^-1 photosynthetically active radiation, 23-25 ℃ and 60% Relative Humidity). Ninety-five percent of the seeds germinated at 5 seeds/pot, after one week all the seedlings were showing the apical bud and two cotyledons. Seedlings were then selected for uniformity (plant height and number of leaves) from a large population, and were individually transplanted to 1200 ml pots containing autoclaved soil:sand mix (1:2, v/v). Half of the seedlings received the mycorrhizal treatment as described below. Mycorrhizal colonization of germinated tomato seedlings was induced by transplanting the plants into pots containing autoclaved substrate mixed with inoculum. Mycorrhizal plants (AM): plants were inoculated with 20 ml of Endorize IV commercial inoculum containing Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Glomus sp., infective units not specified (Biorize, Dijon, France) . Plants were supplied weekly with 20 ml/pot of Long Ashton nutrient solution with half of the content of phosphorus .We attempted to obtain mycorrhizal plants (AM) with size and tissue nutrient content similar to those of non-mycorrhizal plants (NAM) by supplementing NAM plants with more phosphate, since AM symbiosis enhances P uptake and this may alter the plant response to drought . Moreover, the use of plants with similar size allows the detection of drought direct effects not mediated by plant size when working with plants in containers, since unequal plant size can be responsible of differences in soil water depletion and plant transpiration, and consequently plants can be exposed to unequal stress. Thus, not mycorrhizal plants were grown on the same autoclaved substrate, without inoculum material, and supplied weekly with 20 ml/pot of full-strength Long Ashton solution containing 41 ppm of P.All of the seedlings were maintained in a climate-controlled chamber (16 h photoperiod at a light intensity of approximately 370 µmol m^-2 s^-1 photosynthetically active radiation, 23-25 ℃ and 60% Relative Humidity). One month after inoculation, plants were transferred to 3 L pots filled with the sterile substrate and kept in the climate chamber described above. Plants were watered with tap water and fertilized as indicated above.To induce an almost natural, reversible drought stress, thus allowing the plant enough time to acclimate, irrigation was stopped 24 h before measurements were taken. These treatments resulted in moderate water stress (lower than -2 MPa). Two stems, each containing 5-6 mature leaves, and one apical stem were selected in each plant for jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. In the JA treatment, the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of six leaves from two different branches were sprayed until runoff with a solution of 0.5 mM of JA (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The solution was prepared by dissolving JA in acetone and them diluting this mixture with water to 1 mM. Approximately 1.5 ml of JA solution, corresponding to 0.157 mg of JA, were sprayed onto each single leaf. JA-treated leaves were isolated with a protective plastic that prevented the rest of the plant from being treated. The plastic was removed after the spray has dried. Treatments were coordinated so that all plants were tested approximately 14-15 h after JA application to avoid any diurnal effects.Two months after inoculation, gas exchange and VOCs measurements were performed.

Root colonization by AM fungi favoured the leaf production of essential isoprenoids rather than nonessential ones, especially under drought stress conditions or after JA application.

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%).

Plant materials were collected during the flowering period in July 2002 from the Dumluca Mountain in the vicinity of Divrigi village of Sivas city at 1900 m altitude and Saksagan Gorge in Saimbeyli village of Adana city at 1900 m altitude.

The flower, stem and root oils of T. cadmeum ssp. orientale collected from the Adana location were characterized with alpha-thujone (25%, 5.2%), cis-linalool oxide (6.8%, 12.8%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (5.8%, 8.5%) for flower and stem oils, and beta-eudesmol (10.3%, 6.2%, 13.8%); in addition, stem oil contained 1,8-cineole (6.6%) and root oil contained hexadecanoic acid (6.0%), spathulenol (5.8%) and beta-muurolol (5.3%). The flower and stem oils of T. cadmeum ssp. orientale collected from the Sivas location were characterized with camphor (25.9%, 14.8%), borneol (15.4%, 25.8%) and alpha-thujone (7.8%, 5.5%); in addition, stem oil contained 1,8-cineole (7.4%) and root oil contained nonacosane (16.2%), spathulenol (6.8%) and hexadecanoic acid (5.8%).

Wild growing Tanacetum dolichophyllum samples were collected during the period of full flowering, between September-October 2009 from high alpine meadows of Western Himalaya (Uttarakhand, India): Sample I (Dayara, altitude 3200 m) and Sample II (Tungnath, altitude 3800 m).

Plant collected from Dayara meadow (Sample I) afforded cis-lanceol (11.8%), beta-pinene (10.7%), (E)- beta-farnesene (7.4%), alpha-bisabolol (7.2%), beta-eudesmol (5.2%) and terpinen-4-ol (5.1%) as the major constituents, whereas in the sample collected from Tungnath (Sample II) beta-eudesmol (31.4%), alpha-bisabolol (10.7%) were the most abundant components followed by neryl acetate (5.8%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (5.7%). The composition was dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygen containing sesquiterpenes (49.2-71.1%). The oils are clearly different from those of all other previously reported T. dolichophyllum oils.

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.

Aerial parts of T. fontanesii were collected during June 2004, in full blossom, in the Province of Tlemcen in four locations: Sidi-snoussi, Remchi, Sebdou et Sebaa-chiouki and again, during June 2005, in the last location.

The yield of oil obtained from the aerial parts of Thymus fontanesii harvested in the Province of Tlemcen (Algeria), calculated on dry material basis,varied slightly from station to station: Sebaa-chiouki = 5.20%, Sebdou = 5.25%, Sidisnoussi = 5.32%, Remchi = 5.46%. The composition of the four samples was quite similar, carvacrol (66.7-69.5%) being by far the main component. Other constituents, present at appreciable contents, were p-cymene (6.1-9.1%), gamma-terpinene (6.0-9.6%), linalool (3.0-4.0%), alpha-pinene (2.5-3.0%), myrcene (1.2-1.5%), and alpha-terpinene (1.1-1.4%). Conversely, thymol accounted only for 0.6-0.7% of the composition. Moreover, a sample harvested at Sebaa-chiouki, in June 2005, produced on oil with the same composition (68.3% of carvacrol). Obviously, aerial parts of T. fontanesii from the province of Tlemcen produced an oil whose composition differed substantially from that of the oil obtained from the same species harvested in Setif province and Constantine area (Algeria), dominated by thymol (67.8% and 68.2%, respectively).

Herbal parts were collected from A = Eskisehir: Suluagac village in Turkey, altitude 1100 m, in July 1990 and B = Corum: Osmancik, Berk village in Turkey, altitude 580-600 m, on 22 June 1993.

One chemotype (Suluagac village, Eskisehir, Turkey) contained carvacrol (21.59%), p-cymene (17.80%) and thymol (14.10%); and the other chemotype (Berk village, Corum, Turkey) contained alpha-terpinyl acetate (23.80%), borneol (12.85%), linalool (13.67%) and thymol (11.31%) as major constituents.

Aerial parts of the plants with distinct odors, harvested at full flowering stage, were collected from the same population (growing in an area of one m²) on Mt. Parnis Attiki, at an altitude of 1200 m in June 1995.

Limonene (18.7%) and thymol (19.4%); geraniol (56.8%) and geranyl acetate (7.6%); linalool (63.1%) and alpha-terpinyl acetate (20.4%) were the predominant components in each of the three different chemotypes, respectively.