Manganese treatment effects on terpene compounds of Cuminum cyminum flowers

The present study was undertaken to identify terpene compounds in different organs i.e. root, shoot, leaf and flower of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) as well as the flowers of treated plants with different concentrations of manganese (Mn). The plants were sprayed with four different concentrations of Mn (0, 40, 80 and 160 ppm) at (1) both late vegetative and blooming stages, and (2) only at blooming stage. Later, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, alpha-phellandrene, m-cymene and gamma-terpinene compounds were determined in different organs of untreated plants as well as in flowers of treated plants. Quantity and quality of the identified compounds were different in the various plant parts as well as in the flowers of treated plants. Terpene compounds of the flowers were the same as shoots, but had higher concentration in the flowers. Notably, alpha-phellandrene was the only terpenoid compound in the leaves and alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were not detected in the roots. The highest concentration of alpha-pinene was observed in the flowers of plants treated with 80 ppm concentration of Mn at blooming stage. According to the results, alpha-phellandrene and m-cymene increased after treatment with the highest Mn concentration (160 ppm) both at vegetative and blooming stages. Also, alpha-pinene and alpha-phellandrene were reduced considerably in the flowers treated with 40 ppm concentration of Mn at blooming. Overall, the manganese treatments at both vegetative and blooming stages increased the monoterpene concentrations of the flowers more than treatment at the blooming stage alone. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.