Genetic variation of volatiles and rosmarinic acid in populations of Salvia fruticosa mill growing in Crete

Using plant material collected hom the field and subsequently cultivated in the glasshouse, the basis of variation in a number of chemical parameters observed in Salvia fruticosa has been examined, It was shown that clones fr om three populations collected from different parts of Crate and previously found to exhibit different essential oil yields and profiles maintained th ese differences during cultivation. They were found to differ also in morph ology and habit, phenolic yield and composition and different nitrogen-util izing capacity as estimated by nitrate reductase activity. Some clones had very high levels of rosmarinic acid. The population with the highest essent ial oil yield had the lowest phenolic content and vice versa, but within po pulations there were clones with high levels of both. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.