ABSTRACT
Tagetes minuta L. is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species is not native to Iran. Tagetes minuta is an important medicinal plant with applications in perfume, flavour and food industry. Essential oil of this plant has more extensive use in these industries. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effect of environmental conditions on yield and chemical composition of the plant essential oil. The seeds were sown in two location at same time. Aerial parts of plant were harvested at full flowering stage and after air drying, their essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. Samples of oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results showed that yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta were different between two regions. The essential oil content of plants cultivated at East and North of Tehran were 1.44% and 0.8%, respectively. Twenty and nineteen compounds identified from oil of plants cultivated in East and North of Tehran, respectively. The main compounds of oil from East of Tehran were dihydrotageton [21.4%], alpha-terpineol [15.6%], [Z]-tagetone [13.1%], [E]-ocimenone [11.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [8.3%], spathulenol [4.8%], [Z]-ocimenone [4.5%], limonene [4%] and from North of Tehran were alpha-terpineol [20.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [17.7%], dihydrotageton [13.7%], [E]-ocimenone [13.3%], [Z]-tagetone [8.4%], [Z]-ocimenone [6.1%] and cis-dihydrocarvone [5%]. Environment condition had significant effect on yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta essential oil