Influence of nutritional status, environmental and pedological parameters on Citrus medica cv Diamante peel essential oil chemical composition.

This work aimed at evaluating the influence of pedological parameters and nutritional statuson the fruit quality and chemical composition of Citrus medica cv Diamante peel oil. With thispurpose 16 samples were obtained from fruits collected at sea level (zone A) and at 300 metersabove sea level (zone B). The oils were found to be rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons. The maincomponents were limonene and gamma-terpinene. Other abundant compounds that characterized Citrusmedica cv Diamante peel essential oils were alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-myrcene, neral and geranial.The soil in the plain at sea level is characterized by a major sand content (67.6%) and consequentlyby a lower of P2O5 and K2O. On the contrary, the soil in the area in the hills showed alower content of total lime (0.89%) in comparison with the plain at sea level (26.78%). A similartrend was observed for the pH value. The differences highlighted in carpometric characteristics offruits could be attributed to the soil composition. Nevertheless, none of the studied parametersinfluenced the amount of the main peel essential oil components.