Essential Oil Composition of Achillea millefolium agg. Populations Collected from Saline Habitats in Serbia

Essential oil yield and composition of three populations of yarrow (Achillea millefolium aggregate) occurring on saline habitats of Serbia was analyzed in relation to its soil site characteristics. The total of 99 compounds of essential oils was determined within three estimated chemotypes: the chamazulene + trans-caryophyllene+-pinene (in population assigned as P1), the lavandulyl acetate+chamazulene + trans-caryophyllene (in P2) and the trans-chrysanthenyl acetate+trans-caryophyllene+germacrene D (in P3). The highest yield of 1.01 % and the lowest of 0.32 % were determined for populations P1 and P3, respectively. The highest total salt content, corresponding with the highest values of ECe and sodium, chloride and sulfate ion concentration was determined for soil of P1 population, which was assessed as solonchak soil, in difference to much lower value of sodium ions, total salts, ECe and pH, all increasing with the soil depth, as determined for samples of P2 and P3 yarrow populations - typical for the solonetz type of salt affected soils. Differences in yield and chemical composition of essential oils were discussed in term of impact of both population's genetic variability and specific environmental conditions. The essential oil quality in all researched yarrow populations accomplishes standards of EU Pharmacopeia 6.0 and thus, sustainable wild collection of yarrow from halophytic habitats could be recommended