In the studies conducted in 2016-2017, the chemical composition of the essential oils isolated from the herb of two thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) cultivars was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analyses of the volatile oils of T. vulgaris L. cv. ‘English Winter’ and cv. ‘Summer Thyme de Provence’ led to the identification of 80 and 73 constituents, respectively. The main components found in the oil of ‘English Winter’ cultivar were thymol (44.97 and 38.06% in 2016 and 2017, respectively), p-cymene (7.61 and 10.34%), γ-terpinene (7.08 and 6.66%) and carvacrol (5.11 and 8.27%). Similarly, thymol (36.82 and 37.32%), p-cymene (15.73 and 11.20%), γ-terpinene (5.34 and 11.09%) and carvacrol (6.50 and 5.35%) dominated in the essential oil of ‘Summer Thyme de Provence’ cultivar. However, the higher content of thymol was noted for cultivar ‘English Winter’, while cultivar ‘Summer Thyme de Provence’ was richer in p-cymene. ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 3, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Studies were performed to determine the influence of salinity on the antioxidant status of basil plants, var. Sweet Green. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber under controlled conditions (photoperiod—14/10 h, photosynthetic photon density (PPFD)—250–300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, temperature—24 ± 1 °C/16 ± 1 °C, humidity—65–70%). The plants were grown on ½ Hoagland’s nutrient solution, with the addition of elevated concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 80, 160 mM). In addition, increased content of macro- and micronutrients in the solution was applied (4/2 Hoagland’s nutrient solution and 0 mM NaCl). The activity of the antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase, content of malondialdehyde and total polyphenolic compounds, concentration of free proline, and antiradical activity were characterized. The results demonstrate that the salinity of Hoagland’s solution with 160 mM NaCl induced considerable changes concerning enzymatic and non-enzymatic elements of the plant defense and antioxidant systems. Enhancing the concentration of macro- and microelements in the nutrient solution (4/2 of Hoagland and 0 mM NaCl) in terms of biochemical parameters presented a similar trend to the variant with an additional lower concentration of sodium chloride (80 mM).

Influence of Harvest Term on the Content of Carvacrol, p-Cymene, γ-Terpinene and β-Caryophyllene in the Essential Oil of Satureja montana