Determination of ontogenetic variability in Sage plants collected from different altitude

In this study, which was carried out to determine the ontogenetic variability and the effect of altitude in Salvia tomentosa Mill, located in the natural flora of Antalya-Akseki region, plant samples were harvested pre-bloom and in the full flowering period, from altitudes of 800-900 m, 900-1000 m, 1000-1100 m, 1100- 1200 m, 1200-1300 m and 1300-1400 m. In the research, plant height, fresh herb yield, drug herb yield, essential oil ratio and essential oil components were examined. Statistically significant differences were determined in fresh herb yield values between altitudes. No statistical difference was detected between drug herb yield and harvest periods. The effect of altitude, harvest periods and altitude x harvest periods interaction on the essential oil ratio was not found to be statistically significant. Among the components detected in Salvia tomentosa Mill. the essential oil, 17 components exceeding 1% were taken into statistically evaluated. The main components with the highest mean values in Salvia tomentosa Mill. essential oil before and during flowering were α-pinene, endo-borneol, 1,8 cineole, caryophyllene oxide, camphor, α-humulene, bornyl acetate, β-pinene. Within the scope of this study, it was determined that the ratio of essential oil and its components varies depending on altitude. Keywords: Altitude, Essential oil, Ontogenetic Variability, Sage.