Clonal and Seasonal Variation of Major Essential Oil Components of Salvia fruticosa Clones

Abstract Anatolian sage (Salvia fruticosa MILL.) is widely used in many sectors such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The components in an essential oil species are important criteria to determine the usage area. This study was carried out to determine the differences in essential oil components and seasonal changes in the components of six clonally selected C-clones and one natural population. Samples were collected monthly from C-clones for two years, and essential oil ratios were determined. Assessment of all clones revealed that the time of monthly harvests had a significant effect on essential oil components. The highest β-caryophyllene content of clones was recorded in December or February and for essential oil in August. The clone and harvest time interaction caused significant differences in essential oil components, and clones reached the highest values in different months. The highest 1.8 cineole content of clones was recorded between March and June. High variation in the components, the differences in harvest times, and high correlations between components indicated that clones developed by selection have a significant production potential.