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The chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of the volatile fraction of a naturalized population of parsley [Petroselinum crispum(Mill) Nyman] were assessed and compared in a field trial with those of three commercial cultivars. Volatile oils extracted from the leaves were analysed by GC/FID and GC/MS. A total of twenty compounds were detected in all accessions, being the most representatives the terpenes 1,3,8-p-mentathriene and β-phellandrene and the phenylpropanoid myristicin. The naturalized population differed from the cultivars for the highest yield of volatile oil, which was characterized by the absence of apiole, a lower content of myristicin and the highest amount of 1,3,8-p-mentathriene. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil from the evaluated accessions was very low. Due to its essential oil yield and composition, the naturalized population could be taken into consideration for the starting of a breeding programme.ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHERCopyright of Journal of Essential Oil Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A naturalized population of parsley of the province of Trento, Italy, was evaluated ex-situ for its morphological and agronomic traits in a field trial in which it was compared with three commercial cultivars of the species. The naturalized population belongs to the smooth leaf type for the absence of curling, and differed from the other smooth leaf type accessions for the lower plant height, the smaller length of petiole and the prostrate attitude of the plant, all undesirable characteristics which make the harvest of plants more difficult. The yields of aerial parts and leaves were higher in the commercial cultivars, while the naturalized population had the highest yield and content of essential oil. Due to the high content and yield of essential oil, the naturalized population could be the object of an eventual breeding program aiming to improve the morphologic and agronomic undesirable characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]