Chemical composition of petitgrain (leaf) essential oil of different Citrus rootstocks and scion cultivars

Petitgrain essential oil of nine rootstocks and eight Citrus scion plants were analyzed by GC/MS and GC-FID. For the rootstocks, linalool and caryophyllene oxide were the most recurrent chemotypes. Hydrocarbon terpenes was the main chemical class; some oils presented oxygenated monoterpenes as the main class. The ‘Bitter’ orange petitgrain oil presented high amounts of esters, the ‘Taquari’ trifoliate oil has not presented hydrocarbon terpenes, and the ‘Swingle’ citrumelo oil only presented oxygenated compounds. Scion cultivar analysis showed petitgrain oils with sabinene, geranial, limonene and methyl-N-methyl anthranilate chemotypes. Most of the oils were composed mainly by hydrocarbon monoterpenes, with lesser content of terpene alcohols. Two scion cultivars presented the methyl-N-methyl anthranilate chemotype and smaller contents of hydrocarbon monoterpenes; the other was mainly composed by oxygenated monoterpenes. The oil composition of some of these rootstocks and scion varieties may be a potential feedstock for use in chemical, pharmaceuticals, fragrances and cosmetic industries.