Agrobotanical features and oil content of wild and cultivated forms of caraway (Carum carvi L.).
1996
Galambosi B. | Peura B.
Twenty-four wild and 19 cultivated caraway (Carum carvi L.) populations/cultivars were cultivated at Mikkeli, Finland (61 degrees 44'N, 27 degrees 18'E) during 1990-1991. Twenty-eight of the populations studied were of Northern European origin and 15 were of Central European origin. Clear agrobotanical differences were observed between the wild and cultivated populations. The cultivated populations were characterized by a 10-14 days longer growing period, differences in rosette growth habit, size and weight of seeds (fruit) and a higher and more constant germination capacity of the seeds. The oil content of both groups of caraway seeds showed great variations (2.3-7.6%). The average oil content of the wild and the cultivated forms were 5.0% and 5.1% respectively. The highest oil contents (7.6% and 7.5%) were found in a cultivated Swiss and a wild Finnish population. The oil content of the wild Finnish populations was significantly higher (5.3%, n= 13), than those of the Finnish cultivated forms (4.8%, n=6). The main components of the oil were carvone (40- 60%) and limonene (38-54%). Especially high carvone contents were found in a Norwegian and an Icelandic population (60%). The carvone/limonene ratio of the wild populations from the northern parts of Finland was higher than that from the southern parts of the country. Also, the populations from the higher elevations in the Alps had high carvone/limonene ratios.
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