The aim of this work was to provide information about kinetin effects on chemical volatile profile of Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe after several days of plant dormancy release. Rhizomes of C. zedoaria were immersed in four kinetin concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mg ml-1, n = 12 by each concentration) for 30 min. After 240 h of treatment, root length (mm), bud break (%) and bud speed index (BSI) were measured, and three rhizomes at 24 h and 240 h were collected for chemical volatile profile analysis by application of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Kinetin does not alter morphological aspects of the bud dormancy releasing, but drastically changes metabolic aspects of volatile production on C. zedoaria rhizomes, by the selection of several monoterpenes, such as camphene, sabinene, isoborneol, borneol, 1,8-cineole. We assume that kinetin application maintain monoterpene production as a consequence of its signaling over dormancy release.
Keywords: Metabolic pattern; bud dormancy; monoterpene; terpenes; volatile substances.