Volatiles from four Astragalus species: phenological changes and their chemotaxonomical application.

This paper shows the changes of the volatile compounds from four Astragalus species at three phenological stages: leaf development, flowering and fructification, which might be connected with the plant defense. After GC/MS analyses of Astragalus glycyphyllos L., A. hamosus L., A. cicer L. and A. spruneri Boiss., different groups of volatile compounds were found: hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, esters, terpenes, chlorinated compounds, etc. Identified volatiles were used for a cluster analysis in order to make chemotaxonomic conclusions for these evolutionary different species.