Diurnal, Ontogenetic and Morphogenetic Variability of Lavandula stoechas L. ssp stoechas in East Mediterranean Region

Lavandula species which belong to Lamiaceae family have a wide spread area in the Mediterranean region. Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas which is called "Karabasotu" in Turkish, has grown commonly under the natural conditions of Turkey. This species is widely used in cosmetics as well as for medicinal use. Seeds of this species collected from Hatay were domesticated at the field trial area of Cukurova University Agricultural Faculty. Plants were harvested three times a day (07:(00)am, 12:(00)am and 05:(00)pm) during two different growing stages (before flowering and full flowering). Contents of essential oil and its components were determined by using bottom, middle and top leaves for both growing stages in each harvest time. In addition to the three plant parts, the flower part was used at full flowering stages. The content of essential oils ranged between 0.71-1.97% and alpha-pinene, d-fenchone, camphor, eucalyptol, and myrtenyl-acetate were determined as major essential oil components depending on plant parts, growing stages and harvesting times.