Vetiver DNA-Fingerprinted Cultivars: Effects of Environment on Growth, Oil Yields and Composition

Twenty one accessions of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash, sterile, oil type) and Khus (V. zizanioides, fertile, non-oil type) were analyzed by the use of random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Nineteen of the accessions clustered strongly around the cultigen, Sunshine. Three accessions, Khus, Northern India, Kassel, Germany, and Guang Dong, China clustered loosely and were not closely related to the sterile oil producing vetivers. Thirteen of the vetiver accessions were grown in test plots in Florida, USA, Nepal and Portugal. The largest growth was recorded in Nepal, followed closely by Florida and by the cooler, Mediterranean site in Portugal. No single genotype (DNA cultivar) grew best in every plot. Oil yields (% oil/dry wt.) were highest in Nepal and Portugal. Oil yields ranged from 0.29% to 9.61%. Essential oil production (g/plant) was highest in Nepal and Florida and ranged from 0.02 to 4.17 (g/plant). Analyses of variation among the major compounds is discussed.