Selection of new clones of linalool chemotype from genetic recombination in Lippia alba

Abstract

The aromatic and medicinal species Lippia alba is vigorous and rugged native to the South America (Atlantic Rainforest). Because it is an allogamous and self-incompatible species, natural populations have high morphological and chemical variability. This work had as objective to conduct a preliminary screening to identify new promising clones from a novel (recombinant) base population of Lippia alba with regard to its agronomic and phytochemical traits, using the linalool oil or chemotype as model. The two superior linalool clones, obtained by collection, were used as controls. Traits evaluated included: dry mass of leaves (DML), oil yield percentage (EOY%), oil production per plant (OP), and linalool percentage (LN%). Forty linalool chemotype clones were evaluated in three experiments, in a random block design with four replicates and four cuttings (clones) per plot. Besides means comparisons, multivariate analysis was used in order to aid in the preliminary selection of clones. There were positive correlations from moderate to strong for DML vs. EOY%, OP vs. EOY% and DML vs. OP. Linalool clones superior or similar to both controls were identified for the DML, EOY%, OP, and LN% traits (univariate analyses), aimed at further validating experimentation. Five distinct groups were defined in the cluster analysis (UPGMA), each containing subgroups as well.Key words: Verbenaceae, oil linalool, genetic divergence, clone selection, plant breeding. Seleção de novos clones de quimiotipo linalol em Lippia alba oriundos de recombinação genéticaResumo A espécie Lippia alba, aromática e medicinal, é nativa da América do Sul (Mata Atlântica) e possui muito vigor e rusticidade. Por ser espécie alógama e autoincompatível, as populações naturais possuem elevada variabilidade morfológica e química. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo realizar uma triagem prévia para identificação de novos clones promissores, oriundos de uma população-base inédita (recombinante) de Lippia alba quanto às características agronômicas e fitoquímicas, tendo como modelo o óleo ou quimiotipo linalol. Como controles, utilizaram-se os dois melhores clones linalol, obtidos por coleta. As características avaliadas foram: massa seca de folhas (MSF), rendimento de óleo (RD%), produção de óleo por planta em g (PO) e porcentagem de linalol (LN%). Foram avaliados 40 clones de quimiotipo linalol em três experimentos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições e quatro estacas (clones) por parcela. Todos os dados foram obtidos com médias por planta. As médias foram testadas por Scott e Knott a 5% de probabilidade. Para auxiliar na seleção prévia de clones também foi empregada a análise multivariada. Houve correlações positivas moderadas a fortes para MSF x RD%, PO x RD% and MSF x PO. Para as características MSF, RD%, PO e LN% (análises univariadas) identificaram-se clones linalol superiores e semelhantes aos dois controles visando às experimentações posteriores de validação. Na análise de agrupamentos (UPGMA) foram definidos cinco grupos dist...

Essential Oils of New Lippia alba Genotypes Analyzed by Flow-Modulated Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC) and Chemometric Analysis

“…Lippia alba (Mill) N. E. Brown (Verbenaceae) is a vigorous and rustic shrub originated from South and Central Americas, occurring with wide distribution in Brazil. The species, which is popularly known as lemon balm, is largely used in folk medicine, characterized as being one of the most important medicinal plants used in Brazil [ 1 , 2 ]. The species is consumed fresh, being prepared in the form of teas, sweets, extracts, syrups, and tinctures.…”

“…L. alba is a plant that presents great agronomic potential, with rapid and aggressive development and easy cultivation [ 2 ]. All the features previously mentioned have stood out the species as a promising plant for an economic exploration that might be applied as a natural source with different purposes and in varied fields, such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, perfumery and agricultural industries [ 5 ].…”