Relationships between essential oil yield and physical properties of cones in juniper species (Juniperus excelsa Bieb. and Juniperus foetidissima Willd.)

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between essential oil yield and cone physical properties of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.) and foetid juniper (Juniperus foetidissima Willd.) that have a wide distribution area in Turkey was investigated. For this purpose, mature cones were collected from 40 different Crimean juniper plot sand 12 different foetid juniper plots. In the laboratory, physical measurements of the cones (width, height, 1000 seed weight, and moisture content) were carried out in the first stage. The essential oil yields were determined in the samples which were distilled with water vapor in Clevenger system. Average essential oil yield was found to be 2.43% v/w in foetid junipers and 3.82% v/w in Crimean junipers. Principal component analysis was applied to determine the relation between the cone physical properties and the difference of essential oil yields between the sample areas. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that the yield of essential oil may be especially related to the humidity (%) in the cones. In this case, it was interpreted that drought and water stress in plants, especially due to moisture, appeared as a result of reflection on biochemical parameters such as essential oil yield.

Keywords

• juniper
• physical properties
• moisture content
• essential oil
• site conditions
• ardıç
• fiziksel özellikler
• nem içeriği
• uçucu yağ
• yetişme ortamı koşulları