Authors:
L. A. LOGVINENKO, researcher,
Nikitsky Botanical garden – the national scientific centre of the RAS (298648, Republic of Crimea, Yalta, Nikita village; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Abstract. A comparative study of the Myrtus communis L. essential-oil upon coppice and perennial cultivation in fresh and air-dry raw material was held for the first time in conditions of southern coast of Crimea (SCC). The mass fraction of essential oil in the fresh leave was 1.45 times higher in coppice culture. Crimean oil has very high aromatic indicators of the chemical constants, which is significantly higher than its counterparts (Azerbaijan, Spain). Our research found that the composition of Myrtus oil is represented by 7 groups of terpenic compounds, 4 of which are basic: the esters, hydrocarbons, oxides and alcohols. This plant is particularly valuable for humans as medicines and cosmetics. However, until now, even in the subtropical coastal areas of southern coast of Crimea this culture has not been widespread, due to the freezing of annual growth of vegetative shoots. Using the Myrtus ability to regenerate, we proposed coppice form of cultivation, which would enable to avoid the negative impact of low temperature and receive raw materials containing valuable essential oil. The dominant component in raw and air-dry leaves is myrcenyl acetate. Its concentration ranged from 27.0 to 35.4 % of the total weight of the components, and then in descending order there were the following: 1.8-cineol, limonene, linalool, α-pinene, geranyl acetate, α-terpineol, linalyl acetate. Qualitative changes of the chemical composition of Myrtle oil compared to the long form of its cultivation have not been identified.
Keywords: myrtle, Myrtus communis L., essential oil, component composition, coppice crops, permanent crops.
