Essential oils in Czech hop varieties

Czech hop varieties were evaluated as part of maintenance breeding. The evaluation was performed in a single location between 2011 and 2020. The average weight of hop essential oils (HEOs) is 0.43 to 2.28% w/w. The Saaz, Saaz Brilliant, Mimosa, Saaz Shine and Saaz Comfort hop varieties have a low amount of HEOs. Their maximum content of these compounds amounts to 1.1% w/w. The average proportion of myrcene is between 23.42 and 45.14% rel. Only the Agnus, Vital and Boomerang hop varieties have the maximum myrcene proportion above 50% rel. The average share of caryophyllene ranges between 6.19 and 13.15% rel. Saaz Late has a broad range of caryophyllene percentage – from 5.39% rel. to 15.53% rel. The average percenatge of farnesene is between 0.14 and 16.91% rel. Only the Saaz Comfort and Saaz Shine hop varieties have the maximum farnesene share above 20% rel. The average humulene content has a very broad range between 2.23 and 35.79% rel. The Vital, Mimosa, Gaia and Saaz Comfort hop varieties are in a group with a low humulene percentage, which is clearly different from other hop varieties. The average share of selinenes ranges broadly from 0.97 to 33.56% rel. Mimosa differs from the before mentioned varieties with its proportion of selinenes between 23.08 and 43.75% rel. The aim was to characterize and compare Czech hop varieties in terms of content and composition of HEOs.