Production of New Greek Oregano Clones and Analysis of Their Essential Oils

A gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the essential oils from four new Greek Oregano clones revealed that carvacrol was the predominant constituent in all clones, representing extremely high percentages of the oils (from 79.5% in a clone named Athos to 93% in a clone named Olympus). The thymol content ranged from 0.04 to 0.55 percent among the tested clones. Phenols (carvacrol and thymol) and γ-terpinene and p-cymene were main constituents of the oils. These new clones are considered of superior quality as compared with other oregano cultivars currently grown in Greece. The clone named Olympus was the most efficient of the clones tested, having a high dry weight yield and a crushed oregano product high in essential oil and carvacrol.