ABSTRACT
The variation in weather elements throughout the year, setting the four seasons, provides different conditions for growth and development of plants, altering the metabolism and the structure of plants` tissues. This study aimed to determine the influence of seasonality on fenometrics parameters and on the oil production in Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit) Britton, subjected to different levels of water availability cultivated in greenhouse conditions. The evaluations were made on the day that marked the middle of each season (summer, autumn, winter and spring), and all plant material were collected 20 cm above ground. The water reposition was based on the evapotranspiration reference (ETo) to the external environment being applied 125, 100, 75 and 50% of ETo in an irrigation interval of two days. The production of fresh, dry and aerial part mass, as well as leaf areamass, showed higher values in the spring season, while winter and summer were responsible for lower values. The highest content of essential oil was observed at seasons with lower biomass production. The water availability that provided higher production of plant material was the one with 125% of ETo, however, the highest oil content was observed at lower water availability (75% and 50% of ETo, respectively). The oil production was higher in the spring and was not affected throughout the year by the water availability.
Keywords
Medicinal plant; Seasons; Drought; Yield
