Comparison of different Ocimum basilicum L. gene bank accessions analyzed by GC–MS and sensory profile

•Twelve basil gene bank accessions are evaluated by GC–MS and sensory profiles.•Full spectrum of essential oil is analysed by multivariate statistical methods.•Sensory values highly correlates to the GC–MS measurements.

In our experiment, we have identified the quantitative and qualitative parameters of twelve different Ocimum basilicum L. gene bank accessions by the means of sensory evaluation and GC–MS analysis. Sensory profile analysis was performed with a trained panel; data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. The total spectrum of essential oil samples was evaluated by multivariate statistical methods. Each of the accessions ‘Thai2’, ‘Kislevelű’, ‘Dark Opal’, ‘Aroma’ and ‘Genovese’ were distinct from all the other samples. In case of the other samples they considered to be similar. According to our results, sensory values correlate quite well to the GC–MS measurements, thus we were able to identify some sensory parameters with its corresponding descriptive chemical compounds. Essential oil content ranged between 0.51 ± 0.04 ml/100 g and 1.38 ± 0.08 ml/100 g on the dry weight basis.

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