Dynamics of volatile oil of Cymbopogon martinii var. motia (Palmarosa) under leaf rust disease indices

摘要

Cymbopogon martinii var. motia (Palmarosa) is a source of valuable aromatic oil. Besides perfumery value the oil has antiseptic properties also. Severe attack of leaf rust disease (Puccinia nakanishikii) can occur in commercial plantations of C. martinii causing serious losses to the herb and oil yield. Present investigation revealed that healthy leaves yielded 0.60 percent of oil while the leaves with 100.00 percent disease index (PDI) gave a recovery of 0.38 percent oil with a reduction of 36.66 percent in yield. This oil yield reduction is accompanied by decrease in Geranyl acetate and an increase in the geraniol content of the oil.