MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL VARIATION OF ORIGANUM VULGARE L. FROM LITHUANIA

The germplasm of oregano has been gathered from indigenous populations and examined in the field collection.
Infraspecific variability of oregano has been identified at phenotype level by morphometric and chemical methods.
ANOVA indicated significant differences for majority of variables.
On the basis of morphological characters, the accessions of oregano have been attributed to O. vulgare subsp. vulgare L. The essential oil isolated from aerial parts was analysed by GC and GC-MS. The accessions varied highly in essential oil content (0.25-1.51%). The results of essential oil analysis show rich composition and high variation of oil compounds.
The populations of oregano found in Lithuania could be defined as sabinene – -ocimene – -caryophyllene – germacrene D chemotype.
One can expect that the germplasm of O. vulgare is a potentially important source of genetic variation.
Indigenous populations of oregano might be interesting for breeding of winter hardy varieties of this species.

III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Volume 1: Bioprospecting and Ethnopharmacology

J. Radušienè, D. Stankevičienè, R. Venskutonis

essential oil compounds, germplasm, infraspecific variability

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.675.29