Abstract

ACOSTA DE LA LUZ, Lérida; RODRIGUEZ FERRADA, Carlos; HECHEVARRIA SOSA, Isabel  and  MILANES FIGUEREDO, Masgloiris. Decision of the planting date in Tagetes lucida Cav. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.4, pp.236-245. ISSN 1028-4796.

INTRODUCTION: it is necessary to define the appropriate planting period to cultivate successfully Tagetes lucida. OBJECTIVES: to obtain high values of biomass and essential oil. METHODS: picket fences were placed and posterior transplant in 2008 (April 30-May 27-July 8, June 24-30, and August 5-September 11). The survival of rooted stakes was determined in broad daylight culture, the plant's height at harvest and the fresh yield of foliage in four harvests; generally, at three months from the transplant and the remainder ones at three months intervals. The oil content in second and third harvests was estimated by hydrodistillation and presence of components by thin layer chromatography (references: eugenol, linalool, myrcene). RESULTS: there was a 90% survival in transplant; most of plants not passed of 60 cm height, determining that in October-the beginning of period February the plants showed a total flowering, in May a scarce flowering and in June-September a vegetative state and their growth stop in winter. It was demonstrate that a farming period of 12-13 months, the higher values in the second planting date were achieved than in most of harvests, except in the fourth one, where they had a abundant foliage in flowering with high percentages of essential oil and a significant increase from the first one up to the fourth harvest, influenced by rainfalls (May/August-September/2009). We confirmed that after the 6 foliage cuts, plants showed the stump of old stems with many lignin stems and consequently, a decrease in the plant material quality to be grown. CONCLUSIONS: the better planting date was where the picket fence was established was May 27, the harvests when plants has flowering and in culture must to be eliminated after 1,5 years.

Keywords : Tagetes lucida; planting date; foliage yield; essential oil; eugenol; myrcene.

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