Glandular hairs and essential oils in micropropagated plants of Salvia officinalis L.

Micropropagation of Salvia officinalis L. (the common sage) plants to verify their ability to produce the typical volatile oil is described. The morphology of the glandular hairs and the chemical composition of the essential oils from in vitro shoots and micropropagated plants have been studied. For comparative purposes, volatile constituents from field grown mother plants and derived rooted cuttings have also been analyzed. Peltate glands secreting essential oils were present on the regenerated plants. Correlation between the higher amounts of camphor in the oils from the micropropagated, compared to the mother plants, and the stage of development of the regenerated sage is discussed. Histological observations from plant material at different physiological stages clearly demonstrate the rejuvenation of the germoplasm in the in vitro regenerated plants, in agreement with the chemical data.