In this study, variation in the essential oil (EO) compositions of the aerial parts of Prangos platychlaena collected from 13 different natural habitats of five provinces in southwestern Iran, was investigated for the first time. Significant variability in the EO yield was observed among the investigated populations (ranging from 0.04 to 2.85% v/w). GC-FID and GC/MS analysis of the EOs identified 35 chemical components. The EOs were rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons (69.06-90.14%). The main constituents of the EOs were delta (∆)-3-carene (or 3-carene, (+)-3-carene, δ-3-carene) (9.25-43.17%), α-pinene (4.58-27.41%), β-pinene (3.72-25.55%), and β-phellandrene (4.02-17.88%). Briefly, the highest amounts of the mentioned components were observed in the EOs of R5, R4, R9, R10, R5, R4, R9, and R7 populations. According to the cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of all the major components, the populations could be grouped into four main chemotypes: chemotype I (β-pinene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/∆-3-carene/α-phellandrene/α-thujone/α-terpinolene), chemotype II (∆-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-pinene), chemotype III (∆-3-carene/β-phellandrene/α-pinene/β-pinene/β-caryophyllene/myrcene), and chemotype IV (α-pinene/∆-3-carene/β-phellandrene/β-pinene/α-phellandrene). These chemotypes are discussed as being possibly the result of environmental and ecological factors, differences in plant genetics, and their interactive effects. Finally, the difference between the EOs of P. platychlaena, collected from different habitats, is consistent with the fact that variation in chemical compositions could be related to the specific populations of P. platychlaena, which were collected from various environmental and ecological conditions and different geographical areas and origins. Moreover, the results of the present investigation can help to improve the conservation and breeding programs of this new crop.

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