engleski

Biochemical diversity and genetic structure of Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

Salvia officinalis L. (Dalmatian sage) is a perennial shrub native to eastern Adriatic coast and central and southern Apennines. From the Ancient times it is well-known and valued for its high essential oils content and in nowadays, its dried leaf (Salviae folium) is an authorized drug in most pharmacopoeias. To define the extent of diversity existing in 25 Dalmatian sage populations from eastern Adriatic coastal region, biochemical analysis of essential oils and DNA fingerprinting via microsatellite markers were done. Essential oils were analysed using analytical gas chromatography (GC/FID) and gas chromatothography - mass spectrometry (GC/MS) techniques to check for biochemical variability. Using multivariate analyses on the basis of eight major compounds detected, three chemotypes were distinguished: (A) cis-thujone, (B) trans-thujone and (C) camphor/β- pinene/borneol/bornyl acetate. In order to assess the amount and structure of population genetic diversity in analysed populations, eight microsatellite markers were used. A total of 186 alleles was found with a mean value of 20.13 alleles per locus. The highest values of heterozigosity and allelic richness were observed in most southern population, suggesting their high potential for possible breeding programs. In addition, levels of inbreeding and heterozygosity excess were also analysed, enabling recognition of the population characterized by unsuitable genetic structure for further selection. The implications of the given results in possible breeding programs involving S. officinalis are discussed.

essential oils; thujone; microsatellites; SSR; Salvia officinalis

Croatian Science Foundation Project No 09.01/246: Epigenetic vs. genetic diversity in natural plant populations: A case study of Croatian endemic Salvia species