Component composition of the essential oil of Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. under cultivation in the conditions of the Steppe Crimea

This article presents the results of a multi-year (2021-2024) introduction study of lemon balm (Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag.) in the temperate continental climate of the Crimean Steppe (Northern Sivash region) to determine the potential for cultivating this crop as a source of valuable medicinal and essential oil raw materials. Monarda citriodora is an annual plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to North America. Plants were grown under drip irrigation without mineral fertilizers. The phenological development of the aboveground mass productivity, as well as the dynamics of the essential oil content and component composition, were studied. It was found that, in the conditions of the Crimean Steppe, the species goes through all stages of development, the vegetation period is 152-163 days, forms viable seeds (seed germination rate of 95%), and is not damaged by pests and phytopathogens. The average yield of the aboveground mass is 168.6 ± 19.9 kg/m². The content of essential oil in the aboveground mass of plants during the mass flowering phase is 0.67–0.7% of the fresh weight, the oil yield is up to 1.14 kg/m². The mass fraction of the major components of the essential oil - thymol (65.95-69.96%) and carvacrol (6.63-8.63%) - allow us to classify it as belonging to the thymol chemotype. It was found that the essential oil from inflorescences accumulates more thymol (on average 68.93%) and carvacrol (9.20%) compared to the leaves. Despite the contrasting weather conditions of the study period, the chemical profile of the essential oil remains stable, which indicates its genetic determination. The data obtained demonstrate the potential for industrial cultivation of M. citriodora in the Crimean steppe zone as a highyielding essential oil crop with valuable pharmaceutical-grade plant material. 

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