Essential oil of Psidium guajava: Influence of genotypes and environment

•Chemotipic variability of essential oils was found in 22 genotypes of P. guajava cultivated in two environments. So the species does not posses a single chemotype;.•The differential chemical profile of genotype or group of genotypes with similar chemotypes, can link them to their potential applications;.•Genotypes more affected by the environment were indicated;.•trans-Caryophyllene, alpha-Humulene and alpha-and beta-Bisabolol are interesting to breeding programs that aim to add value to the P. guajava crop.

The large amount of biomass resulting of successive prunings in guava crop, can add value to the culture by the extraction of their essential oil, which possess compounds of commercial value. For the first time, the stability of the essential oil from Psidium guajava L. was studied in field experiments considering the effects of 22 guava genotypes and two environments. The essential oils from leaves of adult plants, cultivated in experimental design, were characterized via FID-GC-MS analysis and sixteen volatile substances were identified as major compounds. The environments exerted influence in the essential oil profiles from guava, being more expressive in some genotypes (C7, C13 and C17) and more stable in others (C1, C5, C16 and PET). In addition, the oil composition varied among genotypes. The genotypes C10, C13 and SEC showed high levels of (E)-trans-Caryophyllene; C3 and C6 of alpha-Humulene; and C2, C8, C12, C15 and C16 of beta-Bisabolol. These compounds had little influence of environmental and as have biological activity proven, which makes it feasible to use these genotypes in breeding programs, in selection and crossing approaches.