Comparative Chemical and Molecular Variability of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. Thomson forma genuina (Ylang-Ylang) in the Western Indian Ocean Islands: Implication for Valorization

in Chemistry & Biodiversity (2012), 9(7), 13891402

Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. Thomson forma genuina (Annonaceae) is a tropical tree, grown for the production of ylang-ylang essential oil, which is extracted from its fresh and mature flowers. Despite ... [more ▼]

Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. Thomson forma genuina (Annonaceae) is a tropical tree, grown for the production of ylang-ylang essential oil, which is extracted from its fresh and mature flowers. Despite its economic and social importance, very little information is available on its variability and the possible factors causing it. Therefore, the relationship between the genetic structure, revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and the essential oil chemical composition, determined by GC/MS analysis, of ylang-ylang grown in semi-managed systems in three Indian Ocean islands (Grande Comore, Mayotte, and Madagascar) was investigated. Our results revealed a low genetic variation within plantations and contrasted situations between islands. Variations of the chemical composition could be observed within plantations and between islands. The genetic differentiation pattern did not match the observed pattern of chemical variability. Hence, the chemical variation could not be attributed to a genetic control. As Grande Comore, Madagascar, and Mayotte present different environmental and agronomic conditions, it can be concluded that the influence of these conditions on the ylang-ylang essential oil composition is consistent with the patterns observed. Finally, several strategies were proposed to valorize the chemical composition variations. [less ▲]

Assessment of morphological, genetic and chemical variability of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook & Thoms. for quality improvement of ylang-ylang essential oil in Indian Ocean islands

Scientific conference (2010, January 26)

Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. & Thoms. var. genuina) essential oils from Comoros Islands: characterization and variability

Poster (2009)

The Union of the Comoros is the world’s biggest producer of ylang-ylang essential oils. Comorian ylang-ylang also provides the most valuable essential oil that can be found on international market. This ... [more ▼]

The Union of the Comoros is the world’s biggest producer of ylang-ylang essential oils. Comorian ylang-ylang also provides the most valuable essential oil that can be found on international market. This product represents a high percentage of Comoros’ annual currency. Ylang-ylang essential oil is obtained by fractionned hydrodistillation or steam distillation of Cananga odorata fresh flowers. This oil is commercialized in five different quality grades (extra S; extra; I; II; III) which possess their own physicochemical properties. [less ▲]

Chemical characterization of essential oils extracted from two ylang-ylang floral morphotypes (Cananga odorata (Lam.) HooK. & Thoms. var. genuina) from Comoros Islands.

Conference (2008)