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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

Plant material: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruits were collected from cultivated plants in the region of Korba (northeastern Tunisia) in April 2006. Seeds were set to germinate at 25 ℃. Ten-day-old coriander seedlings were grown in quarter-strength Hoagland's solution laced with 0 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM and 75 mM of NaCl. The culture was placed in a greenhouse with 25 ℃ day maximum and 18 ℃ night minimum, under artificial light of 141 µmol/m² /s (6000 lux) with 16 h photoperiod and 60-80% air humidity. Nutrient solution was continuously aerated. Growth parameters: Plants were harvested at the seedling stage 3 weeks after treatment.

Essential oil content was 1762.64 µg/g dry weight (DW) (0.18%) and 1255.77 µg/g DW (0.12%) in stems and leaves, respectively. At low and moderate stress, a significant difference in the essential oil content was developed between stems, with a significant decrease, and leaves, with an increase up to 43%. Under high salinity, the oil content of both organs decreased significantly. The major volatile compound of stems and leaves was (E)-2-decenal with 24% and 52%, respectively. Other important components were decanal, (E)-2-dodecenal, dodecanal, (E)-2-undecenal, (E)-2-tridecenal and (E)-2-undecanal. Further, the content of these compounds were affected differently by the treatment level and by the organ type.

Two samples (20 kg each) of mature coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) fruits were used for this study. The first was purchased from a spice market of Korba in Tunisia (Tn), the second, from Canada (Can), was supplied by General Herboristerie Laboratory (Marseille, France).

The first from Tunisia (Tn) and the second from Canada (Can). The highest essential oil yield was observed for Can with 0.44% (w/w) and 0.37% (w/w) for Tn. Forty-five compounds were identified in the essential oils and the main compound of both samples was linalool. The total phenol contents varied between two coriander fruit samples; Can sample presented high polyphenol contents (15.16 mg GAE/g) compared with Tn one (12.10 mg GAE/g). Significant differences were also found in total tannin contents among representing 0.7 mg GAE/g in Can and 0.34 mg GAE/g in Tn. The highest contents of total flavonoids were observed in Can sample with 13.2 mg CE/g.

The leaves of Cunila angustifolia which were collected in the Santa Catarina state, Brazil in October (2001), January (2002), April (2002) and July (2002).

The oxygenated compounds were found with high concentration (winter- 77.0%, spring- 84.1%, summer- 82.2% and autumn76.2%). Seasons with low temperature showed increasing in the concentration non-oxygenated compounds (winter- 18.6%, spring- 13.6%, summer- 10.2% and autumn- 19.2%). There is little variation in the main component (pulegone) of the oil on different seasons. The spring oil showed a high concentration this monoterpene (72.3%). The other season's oils showed increasing amounts in the concentration of isomenthone and neomenthol. Winter and autumn oils showed a significant increase in the concentration of beta- caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

The seeds of N. sativa were collected in summer 1996 from Ghazvin. Seeds cultivated at the research station of Karaje, and field work was designed according to a split plot design where plants were exposed to water stress by withholding regular irrigations over 4(T1), 8(T2), 12(T3) and 16(T4) day period and 760 m³ ha^-1. Water was only received by the plants during time of irrigation. After ripening of fruit, seeds were collected and their oils were isolated

Water stress was effective on content of essential oil. Thymoquinone that is one important medical compound in this plant, was 57.78% in irrigation over 12 days.

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

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

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.

A pot trail study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 under the natural conditions of the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. The soil texture was sandy loam, having a physical composition as follows: 45.70% sand, 28.40% silt, 25.90% clay and 0.85% organic matter. The results of soil chemical analysis were as follows: pH= 8.05; E.C (dsm^-1) = 0.81; and total nitrogen =0.09 %; available phosphorus =2.26′g/100gram; potassium= 18.85 mg/100gram; Field capacity, permanent wilting point, available soil moisture (A.S.M) and bulk density (B.D.), as means over the two seasons were 34.0 %, 16.0 % 18.0 % and 1.36 g/cm³, respectively. Seeds of oregano were obtained from Jellitto Standensamen Gmbh, Schwarmstedt, Germany. The seeds were sown in the nursery on 15th November during both seasons. The seedlings were transplanted into pots (30 cm diameter, 50 cm depth) on the 15th February of each season. Each pot contained three seedlings and was placed in full sun light. Each pot was filled with 10 kg of air dried soil. Two levels of potassium humate (0.0 and 1.5 g/pot) was applied to the soil with water irrigation application at three equal portions before each cut in both seasons. Then after one month from transplanting, irrigation treatments were applied to the oregano plants (90, 60 and 30% available soil moisture) equal to 32.20., 26.80 and 21.40 soil moisture. The pots were separated into two sets, the first set irrigated with tap water (0.40 dsm^-1), and the second set irrigated with Nacl solution (4 dsm^-1). Pots were weighted daily and when soil moisture percentage reached the aforementioned points, pots were irrigated to reach field capacity (34.0% soil moisture). The differences between the needed soil moisture for the previous treatments and field capacity were calculated and added to the pots in the different treatments. The experimental layout was factorial experiment in complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Each replicate contained ten pots, while the pot contained three plants. Herbal fresh weight (g/plant ) of each replicate was determined in the first, second and third cuts at 31 May, 31 July and 30 September, respectively before flowering stage in both seasons.

Herb fresh weight g/plant and the content and yield ml/plant of essential oil were decreased significantly by using saline water irrigation compared to fresh water irrigation. Herb fresh weight g /plant and essential oil yield ml/plant of Origanum vulgare L were significantly decreased with the rise in water stress levels. Whereas, there was significant increase in essential oil % by using lower level of available soil moisture (30% ASM) followed by 90% ASM and then 60% ASM contained the highest values of essential oil %. Fresh herb and essential oil production increased significantly with K-humate application. The maximum of herb fresh and essential oil yields were obtained from plants irrigated with 90% available soil moisture fresh water combined with k-humate fertilizer 1.5 g/pot. Essential oil % recorded their maximum value from plants irrigated with 60% ASM fresh water combined with 1.5 g/pot K-humate. Totally, 20 compounds were identified in essential oils of three populations by means of GLC. Carvacrol was the dominant compound (46.44-77.96%) for all essential oil samples, followed by p-cymene (5.31-19.30%) and gamma-terpinene (3.38-16.42%). The composition of essential oil of oregano was affected by soil moisture regimes using fresh and saline water irrigation and potassium humate fertilization.

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.

Plant materials were collected from Chalous Road (north of Tehran province) both at the flowering stage in June and the seed stage in September 2003. The fresh plants were dried at room temperature. Dried stems/leaves (S/L) (collected during flowering stage), seeds (S) were hydrodistilled for 3 h in a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce the oils.

The major constituent in the stem/leaf oil was trans-alpha-bergamotene (77.1%), whereas the major constituent of the seed oil was pregeijerene (87.0%). Nonadecane (8.6%) were the other major constituents in the stem/leaf.

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%).

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

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

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.

Clones of T. daenensis populations were collected from 11 locations including seven locations in Fars and four locations in Kohkiluyeh provinces of Iran. The clones of T. daenensis populations were transplanted to the farm at IANRRC Research Station, located in NajafAbad (18 km west Isfahan, 32° 36′ N, 51° 26′ E and 1612 m asl) in March 2002 . Clones were grown in 5 × 2 m plots with 50 × 50 cm planting density. Fertilizers were applied prior to planting at a rate of 60 kg P/ha and 50 kg N/ha. After 3 years (2004), the aerial parts of plants were harvested at full flowering stage, dried at room temperature, and stored until analysis inside paper bags in a cool and dark place. Td1 (Fars Province, Eghlid, Asepas; Altitude: 2000); Td2 (Fars Province, Sourian, Bavanat; Altitude: 2500); Td3 (Fars Province, Abadeh, Keverlar; Altitude: 2280); Td4 (Fars Province, Abadeh -Shiraz Rd, Kolikosh; Altitude: 2400); Td5 (Fars Province, Shiraz -Yasouj Rd, Komehr; Altitude: 2415); Td6 (Fars Province, Yasouj -Shiraz Rd, Margoon; Altitude: 2170); Td7 (Fars Province, Shiraz -Isfahan Rd, Pasargad; Altitude: 2190); Td8 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Sisakht, Gol; Altitude: 2570); Td9 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Kakan; Altitude: 2200); Td10 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Yasouj -Sepidan Rd, Mahparviz; Altitude: 2660); Td11 (Kohkiluyeh Province, Sepidar, Pazanan; Altitude: 2600).

Carvacrol, thymol and geraniol were found as the main constituents in the oils of the tested populations. Variation of the oils in populations was subjected to cluster analysis and three different chemotypes including carvacrol (47.3-80.1%), thymol (53.1-72.2%) and geraniol (65.6-75.7%) were identiified. Other important components were beta-caryophyllene (1.7-9%), p-cymene (0.1-10.9%) and gamma-terpinene (0.1-7.8%). Although Thymus is known as having high thymol content in its oil, it is revealed that T. daenensis subsp. daenensis has also a high potential for carvacrol and geraniol constituents in the oil. The largest similarity of the oil components of populations was detected between Td4 and Td7 and the lowest was revealed between Td8 and Td9. The differences in the oil content and composition of the populations could be attributed to their genetic variability and they could be a good genetic source for breeding purposes.

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.

The plant material was collected from different regions of Turkey. B = Canakkale: Gokceada, Ulukaya hill, August 1995; C = Canakkale: Gokceada, Doruktepe hill, August 1995; D = Canakkale: Gokceada, Kekliktepe hill, August 1995.

Carvacrol (52-56%) was found as the major component of these oils.

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.

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.

Aerial parts of T. larvatum were collected in July 2002, during the period of full flowering from two locations in Montenegro: Mt. Komovi (Sample I) and Mt. Prokletije (Sample II), altitude ca. 1900 m.

About 40 compounds were identified, representing ~89% and 96% of the total oil content in the Samples I and II, respectively. trans-Sabinyl acetate was found to be the dominant component (51.2% and 69.7%). Among the rest of compounds beta-pinene (7.7% and 4.3%) and camphor (6.3% and 4.3%) were the most abundant in both samples.

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.

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).

Fresh plant materials were obtained on 2002. Collection Data: Thymus longicaulis, abbreviation: TLK, vegetative stage: in fruiting, date: 03/06/02, location: Mt. Kitheron, continental Greece, altitude (m): 600; Thymus longicaulis, abbreviation: TLP, vegetative stage: full flowering, date: 17/06/02, location: Mt. Parnon, Peloponnesus, altitude (m): 1650.

T. longicaulis specimens, obtained fromvaried stations, showed large prevalent phenolic contents. The sample of TLK was exceptionally poor in phenolic monoterpenes (35.83%) and the essential oil of OVH was perticularly rich in carvacrol (88.71%).

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.

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

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

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

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

The material was collected from plants cultivated at the Experimental Farm at the Institute of Biotechnology (Caxias do Sul - Rio Grande do Sul State) from November 1998 to July 1999.

Thymol was found to be the most abundant constituent (31.5-52.4%), followed by p-cymene (17.1-34.4%). Thyme possessed a higher oil yield and the oil was richer in oxygenated compounds when harvested in the spring.