CG-MS/SPME as a complimentary tool to histochemistry in the study of the influence of water regime on the physiology of callistemon viminalis

Abstract

Essential oils from the genus Callistemon are known to possess bioactive properties. Oftentimes, environmental conditions and changes to which plants are exposed reflect on the plant metabolism and physiology. As such, essential oils produced by C. viminalis biosynthesized in its leaves, are subject to edaphoclimatic changes. This work analysed possible distinctions between anatomical, histochemical, and chemical profiles of populations located at regions with different water regimes. Micromorphometry did not show any difference between parameters in studied populations, this was also the case for histochemistry, analysed chemical compounds did not differ. Using solid phase microextraction (SPME), and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (CG-MS), it was possible to ascertain variations between populations and their chemical profiles. Influence of the water regime on the chemical profile of volatile compounds was shown through variations in the proportion of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes detected when comparing the two populations. Though anatomical studies did not demonstrate influence of the water regime, chemical analyses proved a powerful tool in fine tuning results, positively identifying the influence of water regimen on the synthesis and profile of essential oils of C. viminalis.