BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT96-1914 - Origanum sp. and Salvia sp. integrated breeding research to improve homogeneity and quality of multifunctional secondary plant products

FAIR-CT96-1914
Origanum sp. and Salvia sp. integrated breeding research to improve homogeneity and quality of multifunctional secondary plant products

Contacts
Further Information

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT96-1914
	Total Cost	1,230,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	1,149,500 ECU
	Start Date	01/02/1997
	Duration	40 Months

Origanum sp. and Salvia sp.: integrated breeding research to improve homogeneity and quality of multifunctional secondary plant products

Objectives

The food and pharmaceutical industry is increasingly demanding homogeneous high quality raw material for standardisation of their high quality outputs. In aromatic and medicinal plants this aim could, in the short term, only be reached with a few products such as camomile.

Several Lamiaceae, used as aromatic and medicinal plants, contain essential oils and diterpenes with marked antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These secondary metabolites have potential applications in a number of important areas, including food and beverages (flavourings), agriculture and horticulture (disease prevention) and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (active ingredient and also spoilage prevention). New applications in the nutraceutical field are now being realised for antioxidants wherein they act as protectants of key polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAS) in mammalian tissues and organs.

Technical Approach

The objective is to screen a collection of genotypes of plants grown in this project to learn about the genetic and environmental variability of secondary metabolites important for above-mentioned activities. A hybrid breeding system will improve homogeneous quality and can now be applied to marjoram (Origanum majorana L.).

Genetic improvement of oregano species (Origanum sp.) and two sage species (Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia fruticosa Miller) will be carried out using a selection program of selfings of chemotypes. Although the main cultivation areas of marjoram in Europe are located in Central Europe (Germany and France), the seed production should be transferred to and established in Mediterranean regions, where perennial production of marjoram is possible and seed production increases of a factor of 2 to 3 compared to annual production seem likely, but are not proven yet. Marjoram continuously produces seeds over a long period, so optimum harvest dates will be investigated.

Results to Date

The hybrid components of marjoram have been further developed and improved by selection procedures. The first experimental hybrids of marjoram have been established and tested this year.

In seed production of marjoram, a superior seed set in the Mediterranean region has been proven and the influence of harvest time and irrigation studied.

The genetic variability of Origanum and Salvia species has been checked. There already exist the progenies of a selfing generation of different chemotypes of Salvia sp. to improve the genetical homogeneity of the chemical composition.

In marjoram, clear individual differences and the difference between male fertile and male sterile plants could be proven by RAPD, whereas in Salvia fruticosa and Origanum species, the chemotypes could clearly be distinguished by this method.

The antimicrobial and antioxidant testing showed an extremely high activity in both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some chemotypes of Origanum sp.

Contacts

Coordinator

Franz CHLODWIG / University of Vienna Institut fuer Botanik und Lebensmittelkunde / AUSTRIA

EC Scientific Officer

Adelmo MOREALE / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant