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The effect of cultivation conditions on the composition of basil oil
Author(s) -
Nykänen Irma
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
flavour and fragrance journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.393
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1099-1026
pISSN - 0882-5734
DOI - 10.1002/ffj.2730040309
Subject(s) - estragole , chemotype , chemistry , eugenol , essential oil , herb , composition (language) , food science , botany , traditional medicine , medicinal herbs , organic chemistry , biology , medicine , linguistics , philosophy
The composition of the essential oil of basil grown under various conditions in Finland was analysed by capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The growth district seemed to affect the composition of the basil oil, the four districts studied yielding two chemotypes. The essential oil of one chemotype was high in linalol and estragole, whereas the oil of the other was high in linalol and eugenol. Cultivation under cover increased the yield of essential oil (mg/kg of herb) by about 80%. Depending on the chemotype, this increase was largely reflected in an increased production of estragole or eugenol, whereas production of linalol was less affected. Increasing nitrogen fertilizer supply over the range 0 to 160kg N/ha first decreased and then increased the essential oil production (mg/kg of herb).