Terpenoid profiles of in vitro regenerated Artemisia petrosa subsp. eriantha (Apennines' genepì)

Abstract

Artemisia petrosa subsp. eriantha is a protected species whose essential oil is of great interest mainly for liqueur industry; it was micropropagated by in vitro culture technique followed by transfer to field. The content and the characteristics of the essential oils from regenerated plants collected after 1 and 2 years of field growing and from regenerated plants grown 'in situ' were assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and compared with those of wild plants. Results indicate that in vitro propagated plants produce oils rich in sesquiterpenes. Forty seven compounds were identified, the main constituents being α- and β-thujone, whose content increased with the plant age. Quantitative, but not qualitative variations were observed both in wild and in micropropagated plants in relation with plant age and environmental factors. Thus, micropropagation provides plants suitable for the industrial exploitation of this species. © 2010 Association of Applied Biologists.