Variation of volatiles in Tunisian populations of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae).

Abstract

Volatiles from wild Tunisian diploid (2n=2x=26) and tetraploid (2n=4x=52) Teucrium polium L. populations from five bioclimatic zones were assessed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-eight compounds were identified. Main volatiles at the species level were myrcene (6; 15.3%), germacrene D (27; 9.0%), alpha-pinene (6.6%), beta-pinene (3; 5.8%), and alpha-cadinol (38; 5.1%). A significant variation among populations was observed. The tetraploid populations belonging to the sub humid and lower semi arid bioclimates showed a high amount of myrcene (6; 24.2-43.8%), those from the upper arid contain high percentages of alpha-cadinol (38; 50.6%). The dominant compounds in diploid populations, mainly located in the semi arid zone, are alpha-pinene (1) and germacrene D (27). Population chemical structure, assessed by a principal component analysis (PCA) using all identified compounds, is concordant with bioclimate and ploidy level. In situ conservation of populations should be made appropriately according to these two factors.

• Authors: Abdennacer Boulila, Afef Béjaoui, Chokri Messaoud, Mohamed Boussaid
• Journal: Chemistry & biodiversity (Chem Biodivers) Vol. 5 Issue 7 Pg. 1389-400 (Jul 2008) ISSN: 1612-1880 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 18649305 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Alkenes
• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
• Monoterpenes
• Oils, Volatile
• Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane
• Terpenes
• cadinol
• myrcene
• beta-pinene
• alpha-pinene
• germacrene D

Topics

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Alkenes (isolation & purification)
• Bicyclic Monoterpenes
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds (isolation & purification)
• Monoterpenes (isolation & purification)
• Oils, Volatile (isolation & purification)
• Principal Component Analysis
• Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane (isolation & purification)
• Terpenes (isolation & purification)
• Teucrium (chemistry, genetics)
• Tunisia