Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality
<i>Botrytis allii</i> and <i>B. cinerea</i> are important seed-transmitted pathogens of onion. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical compositions of fir, pine and thyme essential oils and evaluate their effects on the germination, vigour and health of onion seed...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/12/2445 |
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| author | Hanna Dorna Dorota Szopińska Agnieszka Rosińska Romuald Górski |
| author_facet | Hanna Dorna Dorota Szopińska Agnieszka Rosińska Romuald Górski |
| author_sort | Hanna Dorna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Botrytis allii</i> and <i>B. cinerea</i> are important seed-transmitted pathogens of onion. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical compositions of fir, pine and thyme essential oils and evaluate their effects on the germination, vigour and health of onion seeds. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the oils’ chemical compositions. Seed germination, vigour and health tests were performed on untreated seeds and on seeds treated with volatile compounds of the oils applied at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h or at a concentration of 0.4 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 3, 6 and 12 h. The main components of fir oil were bornyl acetate (55.5%) and α-pinene (15.6%), pine oil contained mostly α-pinene (35.5%) and β-pinene (18.6%), and thymol (34.2%) and p-cymene (26.2%) prevailed in thyme oil. Almost all treatments significantly reduced seed infestation with <i>Alternaria alternata</i> and <i>Fusarium</i> spp., and some effectively controlled <i>Botrytis</i> spp., however, seed health improvement was usually associated with deterioration of seed germination and vigour. Only treatment with fir oil at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 6 h effectively controlled seed-borne pathogens and positively affected seed germination. Considering the beneficial effect of the oils on seed health, further studies are necessary in order to establish the optimal conditions for onion seed treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:40:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d31cf17ef27e4519a39f490e2758dfe8 |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:40:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d31cf17ef27e4519a39f490e2758dfe82023-11-23T03:21:58ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-11-011112244510.3390/agronomy11122445Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed QualityHanna Dorna0Dorota Szopińska1Agnieszka Rosińska2Romuald Górski3Department of Phytopathology, Seed Science and Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Phytopathology, Seed Science and Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Phytopathology, Seed Science and Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Entomology and Environmental Protection, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, Poland<i>Botrytis allii</i> and <i>B. cinerea</i> are important seed-transmitted pathogens of onion. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical compositions of fir, pine and thyme essential oils and evaluate their effects on the germination, vigour and health of onion seeds. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the oils’ chemical compositions. Seed germination, vigour and health tests were performed on untreated seeds and on seeds treated with volatile compounds of the oils applied at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h or at a concentration of 0.4 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 3, 6 and 12 h. The main components of fir oil were bornyl acetate (55.5%) and α-pinene (15.6%), pine oil contained mostly α-pinene (35.5%) and β-pinene (18.6%), and thymol (34.2%) and p-cymene (26.2%) prevailed in thyme oil. Almost all treatments significantly reduced seed infestation with <i>Alternaria alternata</i> and <i>Fusarium</i> spp., and some effectively controlled <i>Botrytis</i> spp., however, seed health improvement was usually associated with deterioration of seed germination and vigour. Only treatment with fir oil at a concentration of 0.2 µL cm<sup>−3</sup> for 6 h effectively controlled seed-borne pathogens and positively affected seed germination. Considering the beneficial effect of the oils on seed health, further studies are necessary in order to establish the optimal conditions for onion seed treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/12/2445essential oils<i>Abies alba</i><i>Pinus sylvestris</i><i>Thymus vulgaris</i>onionseeds |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Dorna Dorota Szopińska Agnieszka Rosińska Romuald Górski Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality Agronomy essential oils <i>Abies alba</i> <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> onion seeds |
| title | Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality |
| title_full | Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality |
| title_fullStr | Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality |
| title_short | Chemical Composition of Fir, Pine and Thyme Essential Oils and Their Effect on Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Seed Quality |
| title_sort | chemical composition of fir pine and thyme essential oils and their effect on onion i allium cepa i l seed quality |
| topic | essential oils <i>Abies alba</i> <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> onion seeds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/12/2445 |
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