Anju Yadav

The greater effectiveness of Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices in improving productivity, oil content and tolerance of salt‐stressed menthol mint (Mentha arvensis)

BACKGROUND Mentha arvensis is cultivated in large parts of the world for its menthol-rich essential oil. The study investigates the potential of four mycorrhizal fungi, viz. Glomus mosseae (Gm), Glomus aggregatum (Ga), Glomus fasciculatum (Gf) and Glomus intraradices (Gi) in alleviating NaCl-induced salt stress in Mentha arvensis cv. Kosi and establishes the specificity of interaction between different mycorrhizal species and their effectiveness in mitigating salt stress in Mentha arvensis. Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Mentha plants were subjected to NaCl-induced salinity. RESULTS Among the four Glomus species, Gm and Gi reduced salt-induced herb yield losses: a loss of 27.53% and 25.58% respectively under salt stress in comparison to 51.00% in non-mycorrhizal M. arvensis salt-stressed plants. Gm- and Gi-inoculated plants also recorded higher leaf:stem ratio, oil content, and oil yield and menthol concentration in essential oil under both saline and non-saline conditions. CONCLUSION Better performance in terms of herb yield, and oil content and yield was observed in Gi- and Gm-inoculated M. arvensis plants, suggesting the capability of Gi and Gm in protecting plants from the detrimental effects of salt stress; beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, however, may vary with host and environment.

Volatile terpenoid compositions of leaf and rhizome of Curcuma amada Roxb. from Northern India

The volatile constituents of leaves and rhizomes of Curcuma amada grown in the foothills of Uttarakhand, India, were studied by using capillary gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The analysis revealed fifty-seven constituents comprising 92.69% and 98.56% of the leaf and rhizome oil compositions. The leaf essential oil of C. amada was mainly composed of furanosesquiterpenoids, namely epi-curzerenone (10.76%), curzerenone (9.53%), curzerene (3.95%) and furanogermenone (1.77%). Camphor (17.90%), isoborneol (7.30%), camphene (3.57%), borneol (1.87%) and camphene hydrate (1.25%) were the major constituents of 36.79% of the monoterpenoids fraction of leaf essential oil composition. Conversely, the rhizome essential oil of C. amada was mainly dominated by monoterpenoids (97.72%), with myrcene (88.84%) a single major constituent along with β-pinene (3.74%), (E)-β-ocimene (2.61%) and other minor constituents. Comparison of the volatile constituents of leaves and rhizome essential oil of C. amada revealed sharp qualitative and quantitative variations. Furanosesquiterpenoids, isoborneol and borneol were the exclusive constituents of leaf essential oil, and were not noticed in rhizome oil of C. amada. Myrcene, the single major constituent of rhizome oil, along with β-pinene and (E)-β-ocimene, seem to be responsible for the characteristic mango aroma of C. amada.

Seasonal Variation in Essential Oil Content and Composition of Thyme, Thymus serpyllum L. Cultivated in Uttarakhand Hills

Thymus serpyllum L. grown in Kumaon region of Western Himalaya was investigated for essential oil content and composition in different seasons. The oils of fresh samples were obtained by hydrodistillation. The yield of essential oil (% v/w) during different seasons varied from 0.07 to 0.28% with the highest in summer season, at vegetative stage. The oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Major components of all the samples were thymol (19.4-60.1%), γ-terpinene (0.3-13.8%) and p-cymene (3.5-10.4%). The results clearly indicated that season has significant effect on quality and quantity of thyme oil.

Effect of Soil Sodicity on Growth, Yield, Essential Oil Composition, and Cation Accumulation in Rose‐Scented Geranium

Abstract The effect of soil sodicity [exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)] on the growth, yield, essential oil composition, and cation accumulation of two cultivars (Bourbon and Cimpawan) of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) were studied in a pot experiment. Irrespective of soil sodicity, two cultivars of geranium differed significantly in their plant height and herb and oil yield. Plant height was not significantly affected with increases in soil ESP from 0.7 (control) to 20.0 and 7.0, respectively, for cultivars (cv) Bourbon and Cimpawan, but further increase in soil ESP decreased the plant height. The herb yield of cv Bourbon significantly increased with increasing soil ESP to 16.0, and the oil yield increased with increasing ESP to 7.0. Further increase in soil ESP decreased the yield. The increase in yield of cv Bourbon was 13.1 and 15.1% in the herb and 40.0 and 15.2% in the oil over the control (ESP 0.7) at soil ESP of 7.0 and 16.0, respectively. Decreases in yield were 3.5, 4.9, 53.3, and 59.3% in the herb yield and 3.8, 5.7, 53.3, and 80.0% in the oil over control (ESP 0.7) at soil ESP of 20.0, 24.0, 28.0, and 30.0, respectively. The herb and oil yield of cv Cimpawan significantly decreased with increase in soil ESP. The decease in yield was 17.7, 20.2, 40.7, 53.1, 70.7, and 72.6% in the herb and 4.0, 6.8, 30.9, 45.4, 83.2, and 84.0% in the oil over control (soil ESP 0.7) at the soil ESP 7.0, 16.0, 20.0, 24.0, 28.0, and 30.0, respectively. The concentration of isomenthone, linalool, citronellyl formate, and geranyl formate in the essential oil increased at low levels of soil ESP (between 16.0 to 24.0) but decreased at high soil ESP (>28). The concentration of l‐citronellol, nerol, and geraniol gradually increased with increase in soil ESP. The increase in the soil ESP enhanced the concentration of sodium (Na) and decreased that of potassium (K) in shoot and root tissues of geranium as compared to control. The concentration of Ca in shoot tissues of cv Bourbon significantly decreased with increase in soil ESP, but in the cv Cimpawan, the Ca concentration was not significantly affected with increase in soil ESP from 0.7 to 16.0, and thereafter the Ca concentration significantly decreased with further increase in soil ESP. The concentration of Na, K, and Ca were relatively higher in shoot than in root tissues. The K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in shoot tissues of both cultivars of geranium decreased with increase in soil ESP. The K/Na and Ca/Na ratios in shoot were not found to be related to the differences in sodicity tolerance of the cultivars of geranium tested in this experiment. The concentration of zinc (Zn) in shoot tissues decreased with increase in soil ESP. The cv Bourbon maintained a higher concentration of Zn in shoot tissues at high sodicity than that of cv Cimpawan. The results suggest that the geranium is slightly to moderately tolerant of soil sodicity stress.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of the Twigs and Leaves of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa

Abstract The essential oil of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The oil of twigs afforded the identifcation of 16 compounds, including eight monoterpene hydrocarbons (92.8%), two oxygenated monoterpenes (2.5%), four sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (2.2%), one oxygenated sesquiterpene (0.2%) and one phenolic compound. Limonene (51.7%) and (Z)-α-ocimene (39.8%) were the major components reported frst time in the oil of twigs of Aegle marmelos. The leaf oil was found to contain 15 compounds, including seven monotorpene hydrocarbons (90.7%), three oxygenated monoterpenes (2.9%), four sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3.1%) and one phenolic compound (0.2%). Limonene (82.4%) was the main constituent.

Enantioenriched (3S)-(+)-Linalool in the Leaf Oil of Cinnamomum tamala Nees et Eberm. from Kumaon

Abstract Variations and genuineness in constituents of Cinnamomum tamala leaf essential oil are characterized by enantio-GC-FID, capillary GC-FID and GC/MS. The oil samples were analyzed for two consecutive years. (E)-Cinnamaldehyde, which was the principal component, was higher in the first year oil samples but lower in the second year samples. Similarly, (Z)-cinnamaldehyde was 5.8–7.1% in the first year oils and 1–1.1% of the second year oils. Linalool content varied (6.4–8.5% and 5.7–16.2%, respectively) in first and second year oil samples, while (E)-cinnamyl acetate was higher (10.0–22.7%) in oil samples of the second year collection. Using a 10% heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-b-cyclodextrin as the chiral stationary phase, optically pure (3S)-(+)-linalool was found in both the oil samples leading to complete enantiomeric excess for (3S)-(+)-enantiomer.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil from Fresh Leaves of Melaleuca leucadendron L. from North India

Abstract Twenty six constituents of the hydrodistilled essential oil obtained from the leaves of Melaleuca leucadendron L. growing in Lucknow region of north India have been analyzed and identified using GC and GC-MS. Major constituents found in leaves are 1,8-cineole (19.9%), β-eudesmol (15.8%) α-eudesmol (11.3%), viridifloral (8.9%) and guaiol (9.0%) respectively.

Response of Basil Species to Soil Sodicity Stress

Abstract Growth, yield, essential oil composition, and cation accumulation of two species of Ocimum (viz., O. basilicum and O. sanctum) in response to soil sodicity was studied in pot experiments. The herb yield of O. basilicum significantly decreased with increases in soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). The oil yield of O. basilicum significantly increased with increase in soil ESP from 4.0 (control) to 16.0, and further increases in soil ESP decreased the yield. The decrease in the yield of O. basilicum was 4.7, 13.1, 13.6, 23.7, and 24.3% in herb and 3.8, 11.5, 15.4, 23.0, and 26.9% in oil yield the over the control (ESP 4.0) at soil ESP values of 24.0, 32.5, 36.0, 45.0, and 50.0, respectively. The herb and oil yield of O. sanctum significantly increased with an increase in the soil ESP from 4.0 (control) to 24.0, and further increases in soil ESP decreased the yield. The maximum increase in the herb and oil yield of O. sanctum was 18.2% over the control (ESP 4.0) at the soil ESP of 24.0. At high sodicity, the decrease in yield of O. sanctum was 12.4 and 23.2% in the herb and 12.7 and 20.9% in the oil yield over control (ESP 4.0) at soil ESP values of 45.0 and 50.0, respectively. The concentration of methyl chavicol in the essential oil of O. basilicum and that of eugenol in the essential oil of O. sanctum was significantly higher at moderate soil sodicity levels as compared to the control (ESP 4.0). Increases in soil ESP enhanced the concentration of sodium (Na) and decreased that of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in shoot tissues of both the Ocimum species. The concentration of potassium (K) in shoot tissues of O. sanctum gradually decreased with increase in soil ESP, and that of K in the O. basilicum increased with increase in soil ESP from 4.0 (control) to 36.0. Further increases in soil ESP decreased the K content. These results indicate that both these Ocimum species are highly tolerant to soil sodicity stress.

Enantiomer differentiation of key volatile constituents from leaves, stems, rhizome and flowers of cultivated Hedychium coronarium Koenig from India

The composition of the main constituents from different plant parts (rhizome, stems, leaves and flowers) of cultivated Hedychium coronarium Koenig, and the enantiomeric ratio of some of these, were determined by gas chromatography, chiral gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The number of components identified in the essential oils of rhizome, stems and leaves was twenty-three, fifteen and twenty-three, respectively, representing 98.8%, 97.7% and 98.9% of each corresponding oil. The major constituents in rhizome, stems and leaves oils included α-pinene (9.6%, 10.0% and 23.0%), β-pinene (39.1%, 38.8% and 44.1%), 1,8-cineole (32.2%, 5.6% and 5.1%) and α-terpineol (4.9%, 12.2% and 0.2%), while (E)-β-ocimene, linalool and 1,8-cineole were identified in the flower aroma when exposed to solid-phase microextraction fibers. In addition, the chiral examination showed a high enantiomeric excess (ca. 99%) for (3R)-(−)-linalool in rhizome and flowers, (4S)-(−)-α-terpineol in leaves and (1S)-(−)-borneol in stems.

Chemical composition of the aliphatic compounds rich essential oil of Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ex Murray from India

Hydro-distilled essential oil of the aerial parts of Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ex Murray (Hypericaceae), grown in northern India was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of seventy constituents representing 93.6% of the total composition have been identified. Major constituents of the essential oil were 2-methyl octane (24.9%), n-nonane (21.4%), (2Z)-nonenol (16.5%), n-decanal (8.2%) and allo-aromadendrene epoxide (3.3%). The characteristic of the H. japonicum essential oil was the presence of higher amount of aliphatic compounds (82.5%) compared with terpenoids.