Spatial Variation in Yield, Chemical Composition, and Phytotoxic Activity of Cistus ladanifer Essential Oils

Abstract

Cistus ladanifer L. (rockrose) is a widespread shrub species of the Mediterranean region with products highly valued by the perfume and cosmetics industry. In this research, the variability in yield, chemical composition and phytotoxic activity of C. ladanifer essential oils collected from 12 plots belonging to four natural populations and settled on two different types of edaphic substrates were evaluated. The essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS. The essential oil content ranged from 0.19 to 0.42 mL/100 g. The volatile profiles were found to be rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes. PCA analysis clustered the samples into two groups that were mainly attributed to the type of substrate on which the plants grow. Furthermore, CCA and correlation analysis revealed that soil organic matter was the most effective edaphoclimatic driver accounting for these high levels of variation in essential oil yield and composition. Finally, C. ladanifer essential oils showed strong phytotoxic activity on R. sativus seedlings, indicating its potential use as a natural bio-herbicide in agriculture. The results showed that the effect associated to local edaphoclimatic conditions not only impacted on the quality and quantity of the essential oil, but also on the industrial uses derived from its biological activities.