CHEMICAL VARIATION (CHEMODIFFERENTIATION) IN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

Differences of flower colours and scents as well as fruit tastes from similar looking plants have been known from the everyday experience of mankind since ancient ages. Infraspecific chemical diversities (IsCh) were found based on chemical, biochemical and biosynthetic results since the beginning of the 20^th century. Worldwide results provided evidence that direct procedures of clearing genetic similarities on chemistry of plants were efficient methods. The new research trend presented in this article provides a new opportunity for disclosing real DNA and biosynthetic causes of chemodifferentiation, opening great perspectives for the breeding of new, high-powered chemocultivars of medicinal and aromatic taxa.