HERBAGE YIELD AND ESSENTIAL OIL QUALITY OF THREE CULTIVARS OF SAGE (SALVIA OFFICINALIS L.) GROWN IN TWO ITALIAN ENVIRONMENTS

The fresh yields, the essential oil content, and the quality of three sage varieties (Salvia officinalis L., cv. “Extrakta”, “Regula” and “IPPO”) as affected by different environments and harvest time were determined. Sites had large effects on all parameters recorded. In the first year the highest fresh herbage yield (18.1 t ha) was produced from the cultivar “Ippo” in the southern Italy (Policoro); the second year marked increases were recorded in both locations. The highest essential oil content, about 1.5 mL 100 g, was accumulated in southern station. Aroma, oil content and composition was strongly affected by the environment, cultivars and harvest dates. The best aroma was achieved in the second harvest during the second growing season with the cultivar “IPPO”, in both the localities with the highest content of αand β-thujone and 1,8-cineole and the lowest level of camphor. The southern environments seem to be more suitable for an early and a high fresh herbage yield, while in the northern ones more stable productions are possible, but less rich in essential oil. INTRODUCTION Sage, Salvia officinalis L., a perennial shrub, is an aromatic plant of growing importance not only for fresh consumption, but also for the new needs of agri-food sector. Worldwide used for culinary purposes, either fresh or dry, it is also used as a medicinal plant and as a source of essential oil (Boelens and Boelens, 1997). The essential oils and the aroma of S. officinalis are usually associated with high αand β-thujone content (5070%), 1,8-cineole (10-20%), and low camphor (less than 10%) levels (Boelens and Boelens, 1997; Chalchat et al., 1998; Pino et al., 1997; Putievsky et al., 1986). The interest in the commercial cultivation of sage suited for the fresh market in Italy is increasing and only few studies on the varieties performance under different environments have been undertaken. The present paper reports on the fresh herbage yield and the composition of the essential oils of three sage varieties in two typical environments of southern and northern Italy.