The Slovak gene pool of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and comparison in its parameters

Abstract

Plant habit and production of secondary metabolites in chamomile plants depend on endogenous and exogenous factors that can be divided into two groups (Franz 1982): a) morpho-ontogenetic variability, b) genetic variability or genetic determinateness. The activity of these factors is reflected in biomass production, flower drug production, content and composition of essential oil and some other characteristics of chamomile stands. This study presents genetic and environmental variations of essential oil and its sesquiterpene composition – (-)-B of chamomile population (Lawrence 1986). Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the chamomile essential oil of selected cultivars indicate (-)- compounds belong to the chemotype C group (Lawrence 1986). Parameters of the composition of essential oil from cultivated chamomile varieties,