Intra- and interpopulation variability of Balkan endemic - Satureja kitaibelii based on n-alkane profile

Abstract

© 2019 Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. is endemic species of central Balkan that lives along the Balkan mountains range. The aim of this research was to study the variability of n-alkane profiles of four S. kitaibelii populations growing wild in Serbia in regards to biogeography and chemotaxonomy. Using GC/MS and GC/FID, seventeen n-alkane homologues (C19–C35) were identified. n-Hentriacontane (C31) was dominant in all populations, except in population Djerdap and Rtanj were it was co-dominant with n-nonacosane (C29). Population Temšica and Poganovo also had high percentages of n-nonacosane and n-tritriacontane (C33). However, these two compounds had similar quantities in population Poganovo. Statistical analyses showed differences between studied populations based on n-alkane profiles. Moreover, geographically closer populations had a similar profile.