Produção de biomassa, óleo essencial e características fisiiológicas anatômicas foliares de Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter em função da adubação orgânica, malhas coloridas e idade das plantas

Abstract

Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter species is a herbaceous, perennial, branched, aromatic plant, also known as small "boldo", aromatic "boldo". It got small leaves almost triangular compactedly arranged not too bitter and with strong smell and inflorescence type racemose with violet color. Its leaves are used for hepatic insufficiency and stomach aches. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the biomass production, essential oil yield and composition and also anatomical changes of the species in function of light (intensity and quality), organic manure (types and doses) and plant age. In the experiment plants age evaluation and culture conditions the essential oil contents of "boldo" was influenced by the plant development stage. The chemical composition of essential oil was affected by the culture environment. The organic manure tested promoted differences related to biomass production, biomass distribution, yield and composition essential oil but did not modify the oil content. Organic manure contents altered biomass production and essential oil yield, but do not alter the oil content. The plants growth, development and volatile oil yield was influenced by the blue light. Plectranthus neochilus plants showed high phenotypical plasticity related to foliar anatomy under the cultured conditions used. Essential oil content was higher on the places that provide shading. Essential oil chemical composition changed in the function of light supplying.