Search

The use of color shading nets for cultivation of some ornamentals and vegetables has become common. Thus, observing the great influence of the solar radiation on the plant physiology, the objective of this research was to evaluate the the quantity and quality effects of spectral light transmitted through color shading nets (Chromatinet®) in Melissa officinalis L., including physiological aspects as:growth ,content and chemistry composition. Four treatments and five replications were disposed in a completely randomized design, being each experimental unit composed by four pots (one plant per pot). The treatments were lemon balm's plants cultivated under full sunshine, black shading net (50%), red shading net (50%) and blue shading net (50%). The characteristics evaluated were: plant's height; dry phytomass of leaves, stems, aerial part, roots and total; root/aerial part ratio; total leaf area; leaf area ratio; leaf weight ratio; specific leaf area; content, yield and composition of the essential oil. The utilization of nets favored the growth organs dry phytomass yield, independently of the color, in comparison with total sun light. Plants under red shading had lower content of essential oil and yield, but they showed the higher content of citral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic fertilization provides nutrients for the plants, improves the soil physical structure, increases the water retention, reduces the erosion losses and favors the biological control. Ocimum selloi is a native medicinal plant of south and southeast of Brazil where is used popularly as antidiarrhetic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. This research aimed to verify the effect of different doses of two organic fertilizers souces in O. selloi growth, essential oil yield and chemical composition. The experiments were carried out in Lavras, MG, with pots in polyethylene greenhouse with two manuring treatments: Test A - Cattle manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 3kg m-2 cattle manure; 3) Soil + 6kg m-2 cattle manure; 4) Soil + 9kg m-2 cattle manure; 5) Soil + 12kg m-2 cattle manure; Test B - Chicken manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 1.5kg m-2 chicken manure; 3) Soil + 3 kg m-2 chicken manure; 4) Soil + 4.5kg m-2 chicken manure and 5) Soil + 6kg m-2 chicken manure. The influence of cattle and chicken manuring doses was verified on plant height, stem diameter, dry biomass weight, TLA, SLA, LWR, chlorophylls content, leaf thickness, essential oil yield and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to verify the influence of different age and types of cuttings in the production of scion of Mentha arvensis L. Four different types of cuttings were evaluated: apical and medium cuttings (from aerial part); tip and medium cuttings (from rhizome part). The different types of cuttings were evaluated at 25 and 40 days of age. The cuttings used had 4-5cm long and covered with Plantmax® substrate to a depth of 2/3. Two rooting periods (25 and 40 days) from the different types of cuttings were evaluated: height, shoots number, aerial and roots dry biomass and percentage of mortality. The cuttings after the rooting period were transplanted to bed and pots. The mortality and the aerial part, roots and rhizome dry biomass were determined 30 days after being cultivated. The results showed that apical cuttings from aerial part at 25 and 40 days after being planted in trays had higher rooting, aerial part development and low mortality. At 25 days the aerial part developed and the scion was ready to be transplanted to field. Thirty days after transplanted apical cuttings from aerial part showed a higher growth, except for rhizome dry biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]