The effects of volatile oils on in vitro potato sprout growth

Summary The effects of 10 volatile oils and their main compounds on potato sprout growth were investigated in vitro. Sprout growth was inhibited especially by the volatile oils fromOriganum onites, Rosa damascena, Carum carvi, Mentha piperita, Echinophora tuneifolia andCoriandrum sativum. The major compound of volatile oils was carvacrol (78.2%) inO. onites, citronellol (46.7%) inR. damascena, S-(+)-carvone (54.9%) inC. carvi, menthol (44.1%) inM. piperita, α phelladrene (45.9%) inE. tuneifolia and linalool (76.5%) inC. sativum. The results showed that some volatile oils rich in monoterpenic compounds such as carvacrol, citronellol, geraniol, nerol and S-(+)-carvone were able to prevent the growth of sprouts and extend the storage-life of the potato tubers.