Dynamics of Coumarin Production in Leaves of Diploid and Tetraploid Matricaria chamomilla.

ABSTRACT

The content of herniarin, (Z.)- and (E.)-2-β.-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid, umbelliferone, chlorogenic acid, and (Z.)- and (E.)-ene-yne-dicycloether was evaluated in Matricaria chamomilla.L. leaf rosette in relation to the leaf age. Developmental changes of the herniarin quantity in diploid and tetraploid cultivar were similar. The highest content of (E.)-2-β.-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid was found in the youngest leaves. The amount of umbelliferone and chlorogenic acid increased with the leaf age. Differences in amount of (Z.)- and (E.)-ene-yne-dicycloether between tetraploid and diploid plants were significant in all leaf pairs. However, their content during the leaf development was not considerably changed, contrary to coumarins.

Keywords:

• Coumarins
• leaf development
• ploidy
• Matricaria chamomilla