Using Phenolic Compounds and Some Morphological Characters as Distinguishing Factors to Evaluate the Diversity of Perilla Genetic Resources

The objectives of this study were to evaluate total phenolic content (TPC) and individual phenolic compounds in leaves of perilla genetic resources, assess whether they could be used as distinguishing factor among germplasms, and evaluate their relationship with some quantitative and qualitative morphological characters. TPC and individual phenolic compounds were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and UPLC-PDA system, respectively. Wide variations in TPC (7.99 to 133.70 mgGAE/g DE), rosmarinic acid (ND to 21.05 mg/g DE), caffeic acid (ND to 1.17 mg/g DE), apigenin7-O-diglucuronide (ND to 2.21 mg luteolin equivalent (mgLUE)/g DE), scutellarein-7-O-glucuronide (ND to 5.25 mg LUE/g DE), and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (ND to 2.81 mg LUE/g DE) were observed. Intensities of green pigment at abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces were positively correlated with phenolic compounds whereas leaf length and width had negative correlation. Purple pigmented accessions were shorter in leaf length and width but exhibited higher amount of phenolic compounds compared to green pigmented accessions in most cases. Leaf shape was not related with content of phenolic compounds, color of leaves, and length/width of leaves. TPC and individual phenolic compounds along with morphological characters could be useful distinguishing factors for perilla genetic resources.