Effects of Salicylic Acid on Essential Oil Components in Yarrow (Achillea millefolium Boiss)

The essential oil of Achillea millefolium Boiss. used as a folk medicine. Essential oil was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Exogenous application of salicylic acid (Control, 200, 4oo mgL-1) in early flowering stage led to changes in composition of essential oils. The salicylic acid application increased 1,8-cineol from 3.2% (Control mgL-1) to 5.9% (400 mgL-1), B- caryphyllen from 1.5% (0 mgL-1) to 2.6% (400 mgL-1), Ar-curcumen from 1.5% (0 mgL-1), to 2.5% (200 mgL-1) and spathulionl from 3.5% (0 mgL-1) to 6.2% (400 mgL-1) but decreased sabenin, comphore and ?-bisabolen. Some compounds such as iso-spathulinol, ?-cadinene, B-himachalene, and trans-caryophyllen only detected in salicylic acid treatment.