Vetiveria zizanioides vs V.nigratana

There is great interest in the difference - both physiology and use application potential - between V.ziznioides and V.nigritana. Dr Umesh Lavania (U.C. Lavania, Ph.D., D.Sc., Dy. Director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow - 226 015, India, Fax : +91-522-2342666 <[email protected]> <[email protected]>) had been working with TVN for some years now and is currently taking a look at some Vetiveria sp in more detail.

From time to time we will add to this page some of the informal correspondance and imagesn of this comparative work foir the interest of others and for gathering further information and feed back that can be sent direct to Dr. Lavania.

Feb 18th 2004 - Lavania to Chomchalow, Grimshaw and Juliard

"Dr. Cris Juliard had sent me a few slips of Vetiveria nigritana during summer of 2002. The slips survived one full month in postal transit, and the etiolated slips on arrival were recovered by placing them in water for over 15 days when they turned green suitable for field plantation. That material is fully grown up now and have also bore seeds. Perhaps this species does not form seeds in Senegal (?), Criss could you please confirm. I am forwarding here the photographs of the root clump of V. nigritana vis-a-vis V. zizaniodes (from north Indian wild type khus) for your perusal.

I notice one clear cut difference in the physiography of the roots of the two species. Whereas zizaniodes type roots are thick and smooth (with little fibrous secondary roots), the ones from nigritana are thin and more fibrous. Also, the slips in zizaniodes have axillary buds close to nodes imparting spreading plant habit, but in nigritana the nodes are sparse with little axillary buds. As has been discussed earlier in our publications, the thicker and smooth roots are prefered for perfume quality oil. However, I plan to distil oil from roots of nigritana to find out its quantitative concentration and qualitative differences, if any. On preliminary examination I notice that the roots of V.nigritana are profusely infested by black ants, which is not the case with V. zizaniodes, indicating there may be some qualitative differentiation in the oil of two species, or there is some sugary substance present therein".

Feb 18th 2004 Grimshaw to Lavania

Thanks for the info and the images. interesting. I am sure that there is not much oil, if any, in nigratana. I will be interested to learn if you manage to distill any oil from it.

Feb 27 2004 Lavania to Grimshaw

I have distilled oil from the fresh roots of Vetiveria nigritana provided by Dr. Cris Juliard. Surprisingly the oil concentration is sufficiently high amounting to over 1.8 % on fresh root basis. The roots were hydro-distilled in a glass distillation unit (Clevanger's apparatus) at 60 C for 14 hrs. This oil concentration is on aggregate basis. I taken oil concentration data seperately for different kinds of roots ( thick-smooth central roots, thick-fibrous mixed type, and thin fibrous-peripheral roots). We shall get them examined from perfumery view point vis-a-vis our north Indian Khus type roots. At the first instance the aroma seems quite pleasant although apparently somewhat different.

I believe you may be more interested to have V. nigritana without much oil, since the roots here are more fibrous having preferred environmental applications. But, I do hope that this may be possible if we screen the segregating seed progenies for reduced oil content. I have obtained some seeds, and shall see if they are good for raising seedlings. May be the north Indian conditions (on account of prevailing photoperiod during flowering season) are conducive to realise good seed set in this species.

Feb 29 2004 Dafforn to Lavania

The info on the roots is terrific; the lack of roothairs and fine ramification have always seemed to me signs of selection, and may coincidentally help account for their great penetrating power (which of course all roots possess) as well as strength? Assessing the morphology of axillary buds, and how it affects the caespitose habit of above-ground portions of vetiver, cries out for documentation ... it fits with all I know about the short, curled rhizomes from which tillers arise, except I thought it helped keep the plant compact! My impression has been that both wild North India vetiver and nigritana were more lax than the cultivated "nonflowering" types. Umesh, don't think there's much on nigritana oil, but I'd wager Bob Adams would be delighted to run analyses ... it's his specialty, and I've copied him. I don't know if there's any photoperiod involved in zizanioides flowering; it seems sporadic among the cultivated types and more-related to plant maturity. Yes, nigritana is generally considered fully fertile, so I'm sure you're keeping it contained ... wonder if it could cross with zizanioides? Can you tell me how the older Indian "hybrids" were created?

PS: FYI, I've attached a photo comparing 'Sunshine' with a genetic "off-type" called Euro or Kassels, which came from Angola in the 60s. It produces heavier roots but reputedly poorer oil. mrd"

Feb 29 2004 Lavania to Dafforn

The north Indian wild type vetiver flowers twice around April and November, and the south Indian type (generally non-flowering / low flowering in south with sterile seeds) does flower when planted in north, but only once around November. This gives a clear impression that there is some relationship between physiological state of plant / maturity, temperature and photoperiod, a situation somewhat comparable to mangoes grown in different parts of India (having different flowering time and alternate / regular fruit bearing habit depending upon location and genotype). However, I did not record any specific data to this effect for vetiver so far, but would try do it now.

Regarding synthesis of hybrids between south Indian and north Indian types, such hybrids were produced more than 25 years ago by Drs Pareekh and Sethi, but both of them have long retired. I personally discussed the issue with Dr. Sethi a number of times in the past , but he did not divulge the methodology adopted. From my own experience, I find that there are clear cut morphological markers especially with respect to color, shape and orientation of stigma to facilitate identification of prospective hybrids, and we can attempt to make interspecific hybrids between V. zizanioides x nigritana. Although, it may be somewhat difficult because of small flower size, but could be certainly tried - I shall explore the possibility. Of course, interspecific hybridity may enforce sterility, but that may be a desirable feature. Let us see ?

Mark ! root canopy is quite dense in nigritana.

March 2 2004 Grimshaw to Lavania

Your observations are interesting, I too have seen non flowering south Indian vetiver flowering in other countries, depending on location, site and perhaps too -- stress -- within that country. It would be good if you could get to the bottom of it, as there is often much confusion. I must admit, apart from the US, I have never seen "weediness" as a problem. Even fertile vetiver is generally a good deal less invasive than most other grasses, and in countries where ground cover and forage is scarce good grass cover is welcomed!! Please correct me, but to my knowledge north Indian vetiver habit can not be compared with "Khans" that I remember as pretty weedy and a problem to farmers.

March 2 2004 Lavania to Grimshaw

Yes, vetiver would be least invasive compared to other weedy grasses. Although, quite a good amount of fertile seeds are formed in vetiver, but they hardly invade distant areas because the seeds are dropped near the mother plant itself and do not disperse by air to long distances. The seed is relatively large in vetiver without any feathery support, thus limiting its long distance dispersal by air. On the other hand the "Kaans" grass botanically known as Sachharum spontaneum, as you say is really a problem to farmers. I have personal experience with the latter in our own agricultural fields. In my native village located around 60 kms. from Agra towards Delhi close to river bank of Yamuna, the three species, Vetiveria zizanioides, Sachharum spontaneum and Sachharum benghalense (syn. S. munja) are quite common. Whereas, vetiver has never posed a weedy problem (its young plants are also grazed by cattle), the "Kaans" is really a menace, its root-rhizome penetrates deep into the soil; it is virtually impossible to get rid of this grass by normal agricultural practices of weeding and cultivation. The species, S. benghalensis (syn. S. munja) is equally effective to check soil erosion threatened by flooding / heavy rains, and is traditionally planted along the bunds in agricultural fields. However, this species could become invasive if not trimmed timely (of course the plant is regularly harvested for its culm and leaf sheath - used in furniture and rope making etc.), because it flowers profusely and its feathery seeds could be easily dispersed to long distances by air. In conclusion, I concur with your opinion that even a seed forming vetiver could hardly become an invasive weed.

I have noted your suggestion and would attempt to examine the reproductive behaviour of vetiver with respect to flowering and seed formation. In the coming week, I shall obtain oil samples from other genotypes available at our experimental farm in order to have comparitive account of oil concentration / chemical profile / perfumery value vis-a-vis nigritana root oil. I hope, nigritana may turn out to be a good resource for oil and other environmental applications. With our botanical background, we shall try to pin point the differences in the two species, and possibly also histochemically localize the site of essential oil synthesis in nigritana.

Should you be interested, I shall be happy to send you new photographs of vetiver roots from our different genotypes to compare root pattern / attachment onto the rhizomatous stem.