Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jarmap Ecological variation of yield and aroma components of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) Duran Katar a , Oya Kacar b , Nimet Kara c , Zehra Aytaç a , Erdinç Göksu b , Sedat Kara d , Nimet Katar a , Sabri Erbaş c , İsa Telci c, ⁎ , Mahfuz Elmastaş d a Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Osmangazi University, 26160, Eskisehir, Turkey b Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Uludag University, 16059 Görükle/Nilüfer/Bursa, Turkey c Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, 32260, Isparta, Turkey d Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat 60240, Turkey ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Satureja hortensis Climatic variation Yield Essential oil Carvacrol ABSTRACT The research was conducted to determine a variation of yield and essential oil compositions of cultivated summer savory (Satureja hortensis L., Lamiaceae) in 5 different locations (Isparta, Kütahya, Eskişehir, Bursa, and Tokat) in Turkey in 2004. Field studies were carried out during 2014 vegetation periods in all locations. Essential oil compositions were analyzed with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). As a result of the research, maximum yields (fresh and dried herb yield) were obtained from locations with the higher tem- perature (Bursa and Tokat). On the other hand, essential oil contents were highest in Bursa having the higher temperature and followed by Isparta (highest altitude). The maximum value of carvacrol, the main component in the essential oil of the plant, was obtained from Isparta while γ-terpinene was obtained from Kütahya followed by Bursa and Tokat. Plants were harvested twice in Bursa, and values of yields were higher at first harvest than that of second harvest similar to γ-terpinene, while for carvacrol, higher yield was obtained from the second harvest. The results showed that climatic factors affected the variation of yield and essential oil components, significantly. Maximum data of carvacrol was obtained from locations with higher altitude as a result of high solar radiations. The results are useful in innovative strategies for production of plant material with high yield and quality in aromatic plants such as Satureja hortensis. 1. Introduction Species belonging to the genera Thymus, Origanum, Coridothymus, Thymbra, Satureja which are rich in thymol and carvacrol are named as “kekik” in Turkish and these species are used in many areas, such as spices, food and medical. The genus Satureja contains 15 species in Flora of Turkey according to the recent records (Davis, 1982; Tümen et al., 2000). Satureja hortensis, which is the only species cultivated in Turkey, is an annual plant and its fresh and dry leaves are used as spices, fresh vegetables, and preservative folk medicine. It is important for heart, muscle, stomach and intestinal disorders in folk medicine (Hajhashemi et al., 2000; Yazdanparast and Shahriyary, 2008). In many types of research, it is determined that essential oils and its extracts of Satureja have antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicrobial effects (Gulluce et al., 2003; Sahin et al., 2003; Mihajilov-Krstev et al., 2009). As an annual crop, S. hortensis may enter the rotation in crop pro- duction. Its seeds are very small and so firstly it is grown as seedlings and then transferred to the field. The main components of its essential oils are thymol and carvacrol. In addition to these compounds, it also contains γ-terpinene and p-cymene as major components. In addition to common thymol and carvacrol chemotypes, γ-terpinene and p-cymene chemotypes are characterized in Italian and Russian samples (Bianchi et al., 1987; Baser et al., 2004). Growing, biomass yields and bioactive substance synthesis of medicinal plants depend on their genetic structures together with cli- mate conditions, soil properties, and agricultural applications. While studies with different genotypes in the same ecological conditions ex- plain genetic variety, studies with plants having the same genetic structure in different climate reveal environmental variation. Although there are many studies revealing the variations of culture and natural populations of medicinal and aromatic plants (Telci et al., 2004; Telci et al., 2006), it is difficult to determine a share of genetic and en- vironmental variations in the studies. For this reason, determining the suitable environment for high yield and quality products is important for both grower and user. So, in this study, it was aimed at determining ecological and seasonal variation on yield and essential oil composition http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2017.07.005 Received 19 June 2017; Received in revised form 4 July 2017; Accepted 10 July 2017 ⁎ Corresponding author. E-mail address: isatelci@sdu.edu.tr (İ. Telci). Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants xxx (xxxx) xxx–xxx 2214-7861/ © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Please cite this article as: Katar, D., Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2017.07.005