Planta Med 2010; 76 - P058
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264356

Effect of sowing date and harvest frequency on flower yield, essential oil percent and composition of chamomile (Matricaria recutita) CV. Presov

M Ebadi 1, M Azizi 1, R Omidbaigi 2, M Hassanzadeh Khayat 3, F Nadjafi 4
  • 1Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Department of Horticulture, P.O. Box, Mashhad, Iran, 9177948978 Mashhad, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
  • 2Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Department of Horticulture, Tehran, Iran, 16415–381 Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
  • 3School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran, 917751365 Mashhad, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
  • 4Medicinal Plant and Drug Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Agriculture, evin, Tehran, Iran., 1983963113 Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic Of

To determine the effect of sowing date and harvest frequency on flower yield, essential oil percent and composition of chamomile (Matricaria recutita) CV. Presov, prepared from Slovakia, an experiment was conducted. The experimental design was split-plot in the basic of randomized complete blocked design (RCBD) with three replications. Main plots consisted of three sowing dates (6 Nov, 5 Mar, and 4 Apr) and sub-plots included three harvest frequencies (first, second and third). Evaluated traits were dry flower yield, essential oil content and yield, yield of β-farnesene, α -bisabolol oxide B, α -bisabolol, chamazulene, α -bisabolol oxide A. The results showed that sowing date, harvest frequency and their interaction had significant effect as measured traits as concerned. On the basis of the results, the most dry flower yield (40g/m2) was obtained from the second harvest of 6 of November. Also the highest essential oil content (0.72 percent w/w), essential oil yield (0.26g/m2) and α-bisabolol yield (0.2375g/m2) were obtained from the second harvest of March and the most chamazulene yield (0.0473g/m2) was obtained from the third harvest of March that it had a little difference with second harvest. According to the results, the best chamomile quality was attained in second harvest of March sowing date in Mashhad condition.

Keywords: Chamomile, Harvesting time, Planting time, Medicinal plant

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