Decomposition process in the Mediterranean region. Chemical compounds and essential oil degradation from Myrtus communis

All aromatic plants emit volatile substances into the environment either during life cycle or during decomposition. These volatile constituents affect the top soil microflora, the nutrients recycle process and the vegetation establishment. Myrtus communis is a perennial aromatic shrub, rich in aromatic substances which can be found abundant in the Mediterranean. Fresh mature leaves of myrtle were used for this study using the litterbag technique. The essential oil content of the initial plant was 0.62% dry weight (dw) and after eighteen months burring dropped to 0.05%. The major oil compounds were 1,8-cineole (29.6%), α-pinene (24.7%) and myrtenyl acetate (10.6%). The essential oil degradation rates were similar under the relative small area of the investigation. Terpenes, esters and alcohols were released fast from buried material. The bacterial activity was induced by the presence of myrtle volatile oil. The only compounds that remained after eighteen months were 1,8-cineole and camphene.