Seed Propagation and Constituents of the Essential Oil ofStevia serrataCav. from Guatemala

Abstract

Stevia serrata Cav. (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae) grows in Central America and Mexico usually over 1500 m. In this study, essential oils of aerial parts from three populations of western Guatemala were obtained yielding 0.17-0.27% of oil by hydrodistillation. Chamazulene (42-62%) was the most abundant compound in the oil analyzed GC/MS, also presenting germacrene D (4.4-15.3%), caryophyllene oxide (3.2-11.8%), (E)-nerolidol (3.9-7.1%), spathulenol (2.3-7.9%), and (E)-caryophyllene (2.5-6.6%). Besides, a propagation trial was carried out on seeds of plants collected in Santa Lucía Utatlán, as the first step for the domestication of the plant, obtaining approximately 75% survival in the transplanting of the germinated seedlings. After the flowering of the individuals, a greenish essential oil was obtained from the roots yielding 0.2% of oil. This oil did not present chamazulene, but α-longipinene (23.5%), germacrene D (22.2%), santolina triene (12.6%), and (E)-caryophyllene (8.1%) as major components. As conclusion, it was confirmed that the aerial parts of the essential oil of S. serrata from western Guatemala presents a high content of chamazulene and that there is feasibility for the domestication of the plant through the germination of seeds.