مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Effects of Drying Methods, Storage Conditions and Periods on the Essential Oil Content and Composition of Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Abstract :

The research was conducted with the aim to investigate the effects on the essential oil content and aroma composition of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia cv. Raya) and lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia cv. Super) of drying methods (in the shade and the sun), storage conditions (room temperature and +4 °C) and storage periods (12 months). Essential oil content of dry stemless flower harvested in full blooming period of lavandin was obtained by water distillation method, and composition of essential oil was identified with GC/MS. The effect of the drying methods, storage conditions, storage periods and drying methods x storage conditions x storage periods interaction on essential oil content of lavender and lavandin were statistically significant p 0.01 level. The essential oil content of samples dried in shade conditions both cultivars were higher than that of dried samples in the sun conditions. The essential oil content of samples stored in the +4 °C in both cultivars was higher than room temperature storage. In term of storage periods, while the highest essential oil content in both cultivars was obtained from the control and it significantly decreased in the longer the storage period. Of the interactions among the drying methods, storage conditions and storage periods, while the highest essential oil contents in both cultivars (5.29% and 10.0%, respectively) were obtained from the first month of +4 °C on dried in the shade, the lowest essential oil content (0.50% and 5.40%, respectively) were determined in twelfth month of room temperature on dried in the sun. The essential oil components of lavender and lavandin cultivars were significantly varied by drying methods, storage conditions and storage periods. In both of drying methods and storage conditions, while the linalool content was decreased, linalyl acetate content was increased by the longer storage periods. In shade drying of both storage conditions, while the linalool content of super cultivar increased, linalyl acetate content was decreased, and the linalool content was decreased on dried in the sun, linalyl acetate content was increased at +4 °C storage condition.