Principal component analysis was performed on those major
volatiles found in the different parts studied of lemon basil (relative
peak area greater than 10), which showed significant differences
in analysis of variance. The first two principal components
accounted for 94% of the total variance. PC1 versus PC2 (Fig. 3) separated
the three parts of the plants, showing that there was a substantial
difference in the aroma composition between the three
parts. Less volatile components were observed in the leafy part
and more in the branch and the flower. Leaf was separated from
branch and flowers by principal component PC1. PC2 allowed separation
of branch and flower. Compounds such as cis-3-hexenyl
acetate (code hexe) and linalool (lin) were related to the flower
parts. Some other compounds, such as cis-chrysanthemol (cch), unknown-
2 and b-caryophyllene (bca), were related to the branch.