agronomy Article Agronomic Evaluation and Chemical Characterization of Sicilian Salvia sclarea L. Accessions Teresa Tuttolomondo 1, Giovanni Iapichino 1, Mario Licata 1,*, Giuseppe Virga 2,*, Claudio Leto 1,2 and Salvatore La Bella 1 1 Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] (T.T.); [email protected] (G.I.); [email protected] (C.L.); [email protected] (S.L.B.) 2 Consorzio di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo di Sistemi Innovativi Agroambientali, 90143 Palermo, Italy * Correspondence: [email protected] (M.L.); [email protected] (G.V.) Received: 9 June 2020; Accepted: 29 July 2020; Published: 1 August 2020 Abstract: Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), known for its aromatic and medicinal properties, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Although the species grows wild throughout Sicily, knowledge of its production and qualitative properties is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic behavior of the species over two years of testing and to characterize the chemical properties of its wild counterparts in order to identify the most promising accessions for cropping or for use in breeding programs. Tests were carried out during 2008, 2009, and 2010. During the first year, the plot was established. Subsequently, the main parameters for bio-agronomic evaluation were taken in 2009 and 2010. Regarding qualitative characterization, essential oils (EO) were extracted from flowering samples of clary sage. The accessions in the study showed satisfactory adaptation capacity to cropping. The accessions examined belong to the “linalyl acetate” (range 36–43%) chemotype. Test results show good potential for Mediterranean cropping systems, helping to increase the range of medicinal and aromatic species in cultivation. Keywords: clary sage; essential oil; aromatic plant species; biometric and agronomic characteristics 1. Introduction Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) is a biennial or perennial, heliophilous, and xerophytic herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae [1] family. It is found in the north of the Mediterranean, central Asia, and some areas of North Africa. It grows throughout Italy, thriving both on dry hilly slopes and on scrubland [2]. In Sicily, it is mostly found growing in mountainous and hilly areas [3]. Clary sage has been highly valued for its aromatics and medicinal properties since ancient times and is one of the most important species for the production of essential oils, together with Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulifolia, with an estimated production of between 50 and 100 tons a year [4]. The whole plant is highly aromatic, the inflorescences in particular, and the essential oils possess a fresh, floral fragrance [5]. Sage essential oils are used as an aromatic agent in food products, as an ingredient in liqueurs and tobacco and as a scent component in perfumes and cosmetic formulas [6,7]. It is currently cultivated in Bulgaria, France, Russian and Morocco for essential oils used by the perfume industry [8]. It is also well known in traditional medicine for the treatment of several common ailments. In Turkey, for example, the leaves and flowers are used in infusions for the treatment of sore throats, coughs, gynecological disturbances, ulcers and intestinal cramps [9,10]. Several scientific studies have also demonstrated the antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-depressive, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial [11–22] activity of the essential oil of clary sage. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1114; doi:10.3390/agronomy10081114 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy Agronomy 2020, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 23 anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial [11–22] activity of the essential oil of clary Agronomysage. 2020, 10, 1114 2 of 21 The essential oils of various species from the Lamiaceae family demonstrate a certain degree of chemical variability due to a range of factors [23–28]. Regarding the chemical composition of clary sage,The various essential authors oils note of various that in most species cases, from the the principalLamiaceae volatilefamily compounds demonstrate are aterpenoids certain degree [29,30], of amongchemical which variability linalyl dueacetate to aand range linalool. of factors These [23 components–28]. Regarding are central the chemical to good compositionquality oil for of use clary as ansage, aromatizing various authors agent note[6,12,14,31]. that in most Another cases, principal the principal component volatile of compounds clary sageis are sclareol. terpenoids Sclareol [29,30 is], usedamong as whicha base linalylfor the acetatechemical and synthesis linalool. of These Ambr componentsox, a central arecomponent central to in good perfume quality production oil for use and as an alternative aromatizing to agent the more [6,12 naturally,14,31]. Another obtained principal ambergris component [32,33]. Linalool, of clary linalyl sageis acetate, sclareol. and Sclareol sclareol is areused the as essential a base for oil the components chemical synthesis predominant of Ambrox, in the flowers, a central while component germacrene in perfume D, bicyclogermacrene, production and beta-caryophyllenean alternative to the and more spathulenol naturally obtainedare most ambergrisabundant in [32 the,33 leaves]. Linalool, [34,35]. linalyl The acetate,species grows and sclareol in the wildare the in essentialSicily (Italy); oil components however, little predominant is known inof theits production flowers, while and germacrene qualitative D,properties. bicyclogermacrene, beta-caryophylleneThe agronomic and characteristics spathulenol of are clary most sage abundant found in thescientific leaves literature [34,35]. The relate species to locations grows in with the wilddifferent in Sicily environmental (Italy); however, conditions little compared is known ofto itsthose production of Italy. Studies and qualitative have been properties. carried out in Brazil, with TheMossi agronomic [36] reporting characteristics data on ofbiomass clary sage production, found in plant scientific size literature and leaf relatesize, on to locationsthe color withand characteristicsdifferent environmental of the inflorescences, conditions compared and on essent to thoseial oil of Italy.production. Studies Other have beenstudies, carried which out highlight in Brazil, withthe variability Mossi [36 ]found reporting in biomass data on and biomass essential production, oil production, plant size were and carried leaf size, out on in thevarious color sites and throughoutcharacteristics Spain of the over inflorescences, medium to long and ontest essential periods, oil and production. in India [37,38]. Other In studies, Italy, however, which highlight very little the variabilityresearch data found is available in biomass on andthe agronomic essential oil characteristics production, were of germplasm carried out of in this various species. sites throughout SpainThe over aim medium of the tostudy long was test periods,to evaluate and the in India agronomic [37,38]. behavior In Italy, however,of clary sage very over little researchtwo years data of testsis available and to on characterize the agronomic the characteristicschemical properties of germplasm of its wild of this counterparts species. to determine the most promisingThe aim accessions of the study for cropping was to evaluate in the Mediterranean the agronomic behavioror to use ofin clarybreeding sage programs. over two years of tests and to characterize the chemical properties of its wild counterparts to determine the most promising 2.accessions Materials for and cropping Methods in the Mediterranean or to use in breeding programs. 2.1.2. Materials Site of Experiments and Methods and Treatments 2.1. SiteThe of 3-year Experiments study and(2008, Treatments 2009 and 2010) was carried out at the Orleans Experimental Station, University of Palermo (Italy) (38°06′26.2″ N, 13°20′56.0″ E, 31 m a.s.l.). The plot was established The 3-year study (2008, 2009 and 2010) was carried out at the Orleans Experimental Station, during the first year following sowing and measurements of the main parameters for bio-agronomic University of Palermo (Italy) (38 06 26.2” N, 13 20 56.0” E, 31 m a.s.l.). The plot was established evaluation were taken in 2009 and◦ 2010.0 Soils in◦ the0 test area were sandy clay loam (Aric Regosol, during the first year following sowing and measurements of the main parameters for bio-agronomic 54% sand, 23% clay, 21% silt) with a pH of 7.6, 14 g kg−1 organic matter, 3.70% active carbonates, evaluation were taken in 2009 and 2010. Soils in the test area were sandy clay loam (Aric Regosol, 54% 1.32% total nitrogen, 18.1 ppm available phosphorus and 320 ppm exchangeable potassium. The sand, 23% clay, 21% silt) with a pH of 7.6, 14 g kg 1 organic matter, 3.70% active carbonates, 1.32% total climate in the area is Mediterranean with mild,− humid winters and hot, dry summers. Seeds from nitrogen, 18.1 ppm available phosphorus and 320 ppm exchangeable potassium. The climate in the area local accessions of clary sage from the island were sown in March 2008. The plants of these is Mediterranean with mild, humid winters and hot, dry summers. Seeds from local accessions of clary populations were characterized taxonomically using analytical keys and compared to exsiccatae sage from the island were sown in March 2008. The plants of these populations were characterized stored at the Botanical Gardens of the University of Palermo. In total, 9 accessions of clary sage were taxonomically using analytical keys and compared to exsiccatae stored at the Botanical Gardens of the used, gathered from 3 sites in Sicily located in the Province of Agrigento (AG), Palermo (PA) and University of Palermo. In total, 9 accessions of clary sage were used, gathered from 3 sites in Sicily Messina (ME) (Figure 1). located in the Province of Agrigento (AG), Palermo (PA) and Messina (ME) (Figure1). PA ME AG Figure 1. Sampling sites of clary sage in Sicily. Abbreviations of the provinces of origin: AG = Agrigento; ME = Messina; PA = Palermo. Agronomy 2020, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 23 Figure 1. Sampling sites of clary sage in Sicily.