Abstract

Media summary

Key words

Anise, Pimpinella anisum. sowing date, water supply, water use efficiency, essential oil.

Introduction

Anise ( Pimpinella anisum L.) is one of the important medicinal plants of Apiaceae family, it is used as an antiseptic, an antispasmodic, a digestive (Gangrade et al. 1989; Hornok 1992; and Chevallier 1996), and fungicide( Sigh et al. 1998).

For annual medicinal plants in dry environments, both efficient use of available water and a higher yield with better quality are desirable( Omidbaigi 2000 ) Water supply and sowing date are two important factors those effect grain yield and essential oil content. (Randhawa et al. 1992; and Fazecas et al. 1981).

In this study, the effects of water supply and sowing date on WUE for dry matter and essential oil production of anise which was grown for the first time in Tabriz, were investigated in both greenhouse and field experiments.

Methods

The greenhouse and field experiment were both conducted at Tabriz University (Lat. 38 º , 5 ´ ; Long 46 º , 17 ´ and Elevation 1362 m ) during 1999/2000 growing season. The seeds of anise ( Pimpinella anisum L.) cv. Soroksari were imported from Hungary.

In the field experiment five irrigation treatments were used: I₁ = irrigation was skipped during stem elongation (SE), I₂ = irrigations were skipped during stem elongation and grain filling stages (SE + GF), I₃ = irrigation was skipped during umbel appearance (UA ) , I₄ = irrigation was skipped during grain filling period ( GF ) , and I₅ = plots were irrigated at all growing stages ( control ).These IRR treatments were imposed on three sowing dates ( April 4, 16, and 29 ) in a factorial experiment. Plots of 5 rows , 0.32 m wide and 2.5 m long were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Soil texture was Sandy-loam with 7.37 pH and 17 % FC.

Results

The results indicated that WUE for dry matter production decreased significantly (P≤0.01), while WUE for essential oil production was not affected by soil available water in greenhouse. Anethole content of seeds also decreased with increasing the soil available water. The essential oil percent was increased in greenhouse by decreasing (((soil available water from 60 %,))) – no data but total amount of oil per plant was reduced by water deficit (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. The relationship of essential oil percent and oil yield per plant with water supply. Predicted values of essential oil percent were obtained by the equation Y = 1.1941+ 0.9151 X - 0.2237 X^2, ( r ² = 0.956 ). Predicted amounts of oil per plant were calculated , using the equation Y = 7.71371 X - 1.32355 , (r ² = 0.996 ).

In the field experiment, WUE in dry matter production was affected by sowing date and water supply (Fig. 2). The mean essential oil yield (Kg ha ^–1) was highest on plots sown earlier (April 4 to 16). Also I₄ water deficit level had no appreciable effect on essential oil yield, however essential oil production were reduced significantly in other water stress treatments (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2. Effects of sowing date (left) and irrigation treatments (right) on WUE of anise. Different letters indicating significant difference at P < 0.05.

D3 – Sown April 29, D2 – Sown April 16, D1 – Sown April 4

Fig. 3. Mean essential oil yield of anise affected by water limitation at different sowing dates. Different letters indicating significant difference at P < 0.05.

Conclusion

It may be concluded that the low available soil water (((( less than 80 %)))) – no data for soil water status – need to include soil water data relative to yields of oil to clarify figure 1 i.e. what does water supply kg/pot mean in terms of available water? affects dry matter and essential oil production of anise. The results also showed that for successful grain and essential oil production, this plant must be sown in early spring (April 4 to 16) at Tabriz. Water stress at stem elongation grain filling and umbel emergence periods can reduce yield and essential oil production of anise appreciably.

References

Chevallier A (1996). The encyclopedia of medicinal plants.Wolfe Publishing Ltd. London.P.44.

Fazecas I, Borcean I, Tabara V, Lazar S, Samaila M and Nistoran I (1981). Studies on effects of fertilizers and sowing date on the yield and essential oil content in Pimpinella anisum in the years 1978-1980. Agronomie , 18: 84-91.

Gangrade SK, Shrivastav RD, Sharma OP, Iyer BG and Trivedi KC(1989). Influence of micronutrients on yield and quality of Pimpinella anisum . Indian Perfumer , 33 (2) :142-146.

Hornok L(1992). Cultivation and processing of medicinal plants. Academic Publication , Budapest , PP. 338.

Omidbaigi R (2000). Production and processing of medicinal plants.Volume three , PP. 26-36.

Randhawa GS,Gill BS and Raychaudhuri SP (1992) . Optimising agronomic requirements of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) in the Panjub . Recent advances in medicinal , aromatic and spice crops . Volume 2 . International conference held on 28-31 January 1989 , at New Delhi , India. PP.413-416.

Sigh SP, Rao GP and Upadyaya PP (1998). Fungitoxicity of essential oils of some aromatic plants against sugarcane pathogens. Sugar Cane , 2 :14-17.