Essential Oil Content and Constituents of Black Zira (Bunium persicum [Boiss.] B. Fedtsch.) from Iran During Field Cultivation (Domestication)

Bunium persisum fruit oils from wild type MM, first (CY1) and second year (CY2) cultivars; (fourth and fifth year plants) were analyzed by GC and GUMS. The essential oil content of the WT (9.1% v/w) was higher than the oil content of the CY1 (6.2% v/w) and CY2 (5.1% v/w). No significant differences were found with respect to the oil constituents. The main constituents were gamma-terpinene (WT: 44.2%, CY1: 40.8%, and CY2: 36.8%), associated with cuminaldehyde (WT: 16.9, CY1: 14.1, and CY2: 11.8%), and gamma-terpinen-7-al (WT: 10.5, CY1: 10.6, and CY2: 18.7%). In total 35 components could be identified covering 95.4% (WT), 94.9% (CY1) and 96.3% (CY2) of the oil content. We also studied the phenology of the plants during the period 1999-2004.