Using indicators of the essential oils composition to identify the variety
Essential oil crops and their essential oils are widely used in perfumery, cosmetic and food industries, traditional and folk medicine. The most important qualitative characteristic of essential oil crops is the content, component and enantiomeric composition of essential oils. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L. and Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) belong to the promising essential oil crops for cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Belarus. In the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy has created a number of varieties of essential oil crops, including 3 varieties of basil Ocimum basilicum L., 1 variety of basil Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) and 1 variety of hyssop Hyssopus officinalis L. The new varieties of basil and hyssop are characterized by a complex of morphometric, morphological and phenological sings.In the studies of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy and the Belarusian State Technological University, the yield and content of essential oils of new zoned varieties of basil and common hyssop were analyzed. Using the method of enantioselective gas chromatography, the component and enantiomeric composition of essential oils of the studied varieties was determined. As a result of the research, it was determined that each variety has its own characteristic component and enantiomeric composition of essential oils. The studied varieties of basil and common hyssop contained up to 20 and 18 different components of essential oils respectively. The features of the component and enantiomeric composition of essential oils allow identifying the already created varieties of essential oil crops, as well as carrying out their selection to create varieties with certain properties.