Some promising clones of Melaleuca quinquenervia for essential oil production in Vietnam

Abstract

Essential oil of five-veined paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) named niaouli oil is a valuable one in the international market. Provenances such as Q15 (West Malam PNG), Q16 (Balimo-Wasua PNG), and Q23 (Casino NSW) were registrated for essential oil production in the years of 2008-2012. The promising clones which have oil contents of 1.53-2.61% with the ratios of 1,8-cineole more than 60% and limonene less than 5%, including Q23.127 (for 3 sites); Q23.21, Q23.315, and Q15.38 (for 2 sites); and Q16.427 (for Ba Vi), were identified after plus tree selection and clonal test at Ba Vi (Hanoi), Phu Loc (Thua Thien-Hue Province), and Thanh Hoa (Long An Province). However, native M. cajuputi provenances at the same age were slowly growing, having an essential oil content of 0.63-1.08% and 1,8-cineole ratio of 16.91-29.82% (not much economically effective).