ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENT AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF EIGHT DILL (ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS L.) CULTIVARS CULTIVATED UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the essential oil content and composition of the eight dill cultivars under Egypt conditions.Methods: A two years field experiment was conducted on eight dill cultivars in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. The volatile oil content of the eight dill cultivars was studied at fruiting stage. Extracted volatile oil by water distillation was analyzed with GC-MS.Results: Essential oil % of the eight dill cultivars under study was varied from 1.93-3.26%. Anethum graveolens cv. Common was the highest in essential oil followed by cv. Local, cv. Compatto, cv. Bouquet, cv. Elephant cv. Vierling, cv. Tetra and then cv. Dukat which gave the lowest in essential oil content. From the results of GC/MS obtained for the eight seeds dill cultivars, two chemotypes were found. The seven European cultivars that belong to type 1 contained limonene (9.60–18.0%), carvone (81.35–89.98%), whereas the Local cultivar belongs to type 2 (cv. Local) contains limonene (18.81%), carvone (56.61%), dillapiole (15.71%) and piperitone (7.41%). No dillapiole and piperitone were found in the essential oil of the first type cultivars (European cultivars).Conclusion: The results obtained in this research work clearly indicated superiority of European cultivar (Common) to all cultivars on volatile oil content. Also all European cultivars were best in the volatile oil quality. European cultivars contain the highest percentage of carvone and were free from dillapiol and piperitone.Keywords: Dill, Cultivar (cv.), Essential oil, Chemotype, Carvone, Limonene, Dillapiole, Piperiton

IMPACT OF CULTIVAR AND HARVEST TIME ON GROWTH, PRODUCTION AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS CULTIVATED IN EGYPT

Objective: The objective of this research was to compare growth and essential oil content and composition among eight dill cultivars harvested two times before the bolting of inflorescences.Methods: A two years field experiment was conducted on eight cultivars of dill in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. Growth, herb fresh weight (g/plant) and essential oil content of the eight cultivars of dill were recorded at the first and second harvests after 60 and 90 d from sowing. The volatile oil content was analyzed by GC/MS.Results: Common cultivar was the best in plant height, the number of branches and fresh herb weight while Elephant cultivar was the best in the essential oil percentage. On the other, Compatto cultivar was least in plant height, the number of branches, fresh herb weight and essential oil %. The essential oil content was found to vary from 0.007-0.008% in the first harvest (harvest 60 d after sowing) and 0.042-0.045% in the second harvest (harvest 90 d after sowing). Anethum graveolens cv. Elephant was the highest in essential oil followed by cv. Bouquet, cv. Dukat and then cv. Common, cv. Tetra, cv. Vierling, cv. Local and finally cv. Compatto, which gave the lowest essential oil content. From the results of GC/MS obtained for the eight dill cultivars, six major compounds exist in eight cultivars, but with different percentages. α-phellandrene>limonene>dill apiol (Anethum graveolens cv. Local, cv. Compatto, cv. Common and cv. Bouquet); α-phellandrene>limonene>myristcin (Anethum graveolens cv. Tetra, cv. Vierling, cv. Dukat and cv. Elephant) were the major components in the first harvest (α-phellandrene chemotype). α-phellandrene>limonene>dill ether (Anethum graveolens cv. Local, cv. Tetra, cv. Vierling, cv. Ducat and cv. Common); α-phellandrene>limonene>p-cymene>dill ether (Anethum graveolens cv. Compatto, cv. Bouquet and cv. Elephant) were the major components in the second harvest(α-phellandrene and limonene chemotype). The second harvest gave the best values of growth, fresh herb weight and essential oil content as well as α-phellandrene, limonene, p-cymene and dill ether percentage in all cultivars than the first harvest. Except, myristcin which decreased in the European cultivars and increased in local cultivar in the second harvest than first one. Also, dillapiole increased only in Tetra cultivar in the second harvest and decreased in the other cultivars compared to the first harvest.Conclusion: The results obtained in this research clearly indicated superiority of European cultivars (Common, Bouquet, Elephant, Dukat, Vierling and Tetra, except Compatto cultivar) than the Egyptian cultivar (Local) in fresh herb weight (g/plant) and volatile oil content. Also, Common cultivar was more superior in growth characters, fresh herb weight (g/plant), essential oil content and the percentage of both α-phellandrene, limonene and dill ether. Elephant cultivar gave the lowest % of dill apiol (2.30-0.25%) in the first and second harvests, respectively.Keywords: Dill, Cultivar (cv.), Essential oil, α-phellandrene, Limonene, p-cymene, Dill ether, Dill apiol, Myristci

HUMIC ACID AND INDOLE ACETIC ACID AFFECT YIELD AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF DILL GROWN UNDER TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN EGYPT

Objective: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of humic acid, indole acetic acid or combination on productivity, essential oil of dill plant cultivated in two different locations. Also, to study the dill straw as a new source of essential oil instead of neglecting this by-product.Methods: In 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, a field experiment was conducted in Egypt to evaluate the effect of humic acid (0 and 400 ppm), indole acetic acid (0 and 400 ppm) and region (Nile Valley and Delta, Giza governorate and Sinai Peninsula, North Sinai governorate) on dill productivity, oil content and its composition.Results: Results demonstrated that dill straw can be explored as a new source of essential oil. Generally found that the cultivation of dill in Giza gave the best results from cultivation in the North Sinai. For spraying treatments, there was a disparity in the response studied characters, where spraying by humic acid gave the best results of survival %, plant height, number of branches, number of umbles and seed oil yield (l/fed). While the best values of dill straw (g/plant or kg/fed) and the percentage of oil seed were obtained with indole acetic acid spray. Also, indole acetic acid+humic acid gave the best values of seed weight (g/plant or kg/fed) and straw volatile oil content (% or l/fed). But, non-spraying plants gave lower values of all studied characters. As for interaction treatments, spraying by humic acid gave the best results of plant height, number of branches and number of umbles in both regions and seed oil (% or yield) at Giza as well as straw oil yield at North Sinai. At the same time, indole acetic acid gave the highest straw (g/plant or kg/fed) and seeds oil % at North Sinai. But, indole acetic acid+humic acid gave the highest seeds (g/plant or kg/fed) and straw oil in regions as well as seeds and straw oil yields in North Sinai and Giza, respectively. Overall, indole acetic acid under the conditions of the Giza region gave the best results for straw (g/plant or kg/fed), while spray with humic acid gave the highest values of plant height, number of branches, number of umbles and seed volatile oil (% or yield) in Giza as well as the highest of seed weight (g/plant or kg/fed) and straw volatile oil (% or yield) was obtained by indole acetic acid+humic acid. In view of the components of the volatile oil found that carvone, dihydrocarvone, limonene, dill apiol and piperitone compounds in the seed and α-phellandrene, limonene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene and dill ether compounds in straw was the main compounds. The percentages of these compounds affected by factors under study.Conclusion: Cultivation of dill in Giza region gave the best results from cultivation in the North Sinai region. Humic acid and indole acetic acid play an important role in plant growth, yield and ameliorate the deleterious effects of salt stress. The content of carvone, dihydrocarvone, limonene, dill apiol and piperitone in the seed oil as major compounds and α-phellandrene, limonene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene, dill ether as major compounds in the straw oil affected by factors under study. Dill straw can be explored as a new source of essential oil

GROWTH, YIELD AND FATTY ACIDS RESPONSE OF OENOTHERA BIENNIS TO WATER STRESS AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Objective: The objective of this research was to study the effects of water stress treatments (40, 60, and 80 % available soil moisture, ASM) and/or potassium application (0, 0.4 and 0.8 g/pot) on growth parameters, yield and fatty acids content and composition of Oenothera biennis under greenhouse conditions.Methods: A two years pot experiment was conducted on Oenothera biennis under Egypt conditions in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. Growth, seed yield (g/plant) and seed fixed oil content recorded at the first and second seasons. The fatty acid profile of total lipids extracted from Oenothera biennis was determined by Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analysis.Results: Growth characteristics (plant height, the number of branches, the number of capsules/plant and dry weights of the whole plant, root, and straw), seed yield (g/plant) and oil yield in two seasons were significantly decreased with the rise in water stress levels. Oil % was stimulated in response to water stress. Application of potassium counteracted the adverse effects of water stress. The maximum growth, seed yield and oil yield were obtained from plants irrigated with 80 % available soil moisture (ASM) plus potassium (0.8 g/pot). On the contrary, supplying plants with a water level of 40 % ASM and with potassium (0.8 g/pot) or (0.4 g/pot) gave the best result for the oil percentage in the first and second seasons, respectively. In respect to fatty acids profile, the percentage of C16:0, C18:1n9 and C22:0 acids were increased with increasing water stress while a reverse response was observed in C18:0, C18:2n6, C20:0, C18:3n6 and C20:1n9 acids. K application attenuated oil composition, where it led to a slight increase in C18:2n6 and C20:0 acids while decreased the percentages of C16:0, C18:1n9, C22:0 acids C18:0, C18:3n6 and C20:1n9 acids. Potassium rates plus 60 % ASM increased C18:0 and C18:1n9 acids while K application with both of 60 % ASM and 40 % ASM increased C18:2n6 and C20:0 acids. The C22:0 acids increased under the interaction of all irrigation treatments with (0.4 g/pot) dose of K. However, C16:0 acids increased as a result of 80 % ASM treatment with the different potassium rates. This study demonstrated the beneficial effects of K application to alleviating the adverse effects of water stress on Oenothera plants.Conclusion: Increasing irrigation levels increased the plant height, the number of branches, the number of capsules/plant, seed yield and dry weights of the whole plant, root, and straw of Oenothera biennis and the optimum irrigation level for the highest yields of these variables was 80 % ASM. Whereas, oil % decreased with increasing irrigation levels and the optimum irrigation level for the highest oil % was 40 % ASM. However, for the oil yield from plants that received 80 % ASM produced more oil yield than plants received 60 % or 40 % ASM. Application of potassium counteracted the adverse effects of water stress. Potassium fertilizer increased plant height, the number of branches, the number of capsules/plant, seed yield and dry weights of the whole plant, root, and straw of Oenothera biennis. Application of potassium could be a practical approach for enhancing the oil accumulation in Oenothera biennis. The current study provided important information about the qualitative and quantitative changes in the fatty acids profile of Oenothera biennis in relation to potassium application under water stress conditions.Keywords: Fatty acids, Oenothera biennis, Potassium fertilizer, Water stres

RESPONSE OF GROWTH, ESSENTIAL OIL CONTENT AND ITS CONSTITUENT'S OF PLECTRANTHUS AMBOINICUS TO IRON AND/OR UREA FOLIAR APPLICATION UNDER SALINE IRRIGATION

Objective: To study the response of Plectranthus amboinicus plants to iron and/or urea foliar application using tap water and Nacl saline water for irrigation, a pot experiment was conducted during two successive seasons (2014 and 2015) under the natural conditions of the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.Methods: Plectranthus amboinicus cuttings were transplanted in the pots in February of each season. After one month, seedlings were irrigated with (2 levels: Tap water (0.40 dsm-1), and Nacl solution (4 dsm-1)) and FeUrea (4 levels: None, EDTA (200 ppm), urea (1000 ppm), and mixture of urea (1000 ppm) and Fe EDTA (200 ppm)) were applied one month from transplanting. The foliar application treatments were sprayed at 60, 90, 120 and 150 d from transplanting. Plant fresh mass (g/plant) and proline content were determined in the first and second cuts after 120 and 180 d from transplanting, respectively. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and essential oil % was expressed as ml 100 g/fresh herb. The chemical composition of the essential oil was studied using GC-MS and compounds were identified based on their mass spectra and literature.Results: Repeated measures analysis of the data showed significant effects of irrigation and iron/urea on fresh weight of herb, essential oil (%), oil yield, and proline in both first and second cuts. Plectranthus amboinicus plants sprayed with urea/or iron under tap and Nacl saline conditions were better than the control (unsprayed) plants. While saline irrigation decreased fresh weight, essential oil and oil yield, it increased proline; and 200Fe+1000Urea gave significantly higher proline for both tap and Nacl irrigations. Within each irrigation, the highest fresh mass and oil yield were obtained from 200Fe+1000Urea. Fresh mass for tap irrigation was significantly higher during the second cut than during the first cut, but it was the opposite for oil yield. This research demonstrated that application of iron and/or urea decreases salinity stress, and increases proline content. The GC/MS analysis revealed the major components of Plectranthus amboinicus to be p-cymene, carvacrol, (+)-epibicyclosesquiphellandrene, β-cadinene and α-cadinol.Conclusion: It may be concluded that Plectranthus amboinicus is tolerant to Nacl irrigations, thus we may recommend its cultivation in slain soil of Egypt. Foliar spraying with iron and/or urea under these conditions could be much more efficient than the not application of nutrients. So, we recommended that foliar application of iron and/or urea to raise the salt stress tolerance of Plectranthus amboinicus