The composition of essential oils isolated from leaves of 11 natural populations of Cupressus atlantica, an endemic and endangered coniferous species from Morocco, was investigated by GC-MS. In total, 42 essential oil components were identified, accounting for 73.1-97.7% of the total oil. Monoterpene (25.2-84.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (12.2-46.8%) were the principal subclasses of compounds, with α-pinene (15-65.4%), germacrene D (5.9-30.5%), δ-3-carene (2-16.6%) and γ-cadinene (1.3-9.8%) as the main constituents. The results of the oil composition were analysed by hierarchical cluster and principal component analysis that established three main groups of essential oils. These oils were differentiated by the content of the major constituents (α-pinene, germacrene D, δ-3-carene and γ-cadinene), geographical location and climatic characteristics.
Atlas cypress (Cupressus atlantica Gaussen) is an endemic coniferous medicinal species geographically restricted to the N'Fis valley river in the High Atlas Mountains in SouthWestern Morocco. Eight dormancy-breaking treatments, 5 NaCl concentrations, and 5 water potentials were tested on the germination of Altas cypress seeds that had been stored in a cold room for 5 years after collecting from Aghbar population. Hand scarification, gibberellic acid and hot water increased the seed germination percentage (up to 75%), and mechanical scarification and gibberellic acid (1000, 2000 ppm) induced a faster speed germination. Soaking in sulfuric acid (10%) did not improve the seed germination of C. atlantica. In addition, salinity higher than 160 mM NaCl and water potential below-0.53 MPa drastically reduced seed germination.
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