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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282382
Effect of potassium nutrition on essential oil of Calendula officinalis L. flowers
Effects of potassium (K) by rates of 0.00 (control), 115.5, 173.2, 231.00, 288.7 and 346.4kg ha -1 on essential oil (EO) extracted from marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) flower heads were investigated by GC and GC/MS. The highest accumulation of EO (0.29% &0.095g plant-1) was recorded at the treatment of 173.2kg ha-1 compared with control treatment (0.13% &0.015g plant-1). 28 constituents were identified in the EO. The main constituents (α-cadinol, Δ-and γ -cadinene) increased with K level increased. The highest amount of main constituents [α-cadinol (33.11%), Δ-cadinene (18.41%), and γ -cadinene (9.99%)] produced from the 346.4kg ha-1 treatment compared with other and control treatments. Alcohols are the major constituents of the heavy oxygenated compounds (HOC) of Calendula EO. α-Cadinol represents the highest concentration among the alcohols. This indicates that Calendula EO grown under K belongs to the α-cadinol chemotype.