The effect of shading and nitrogen fertilization on leaf yield and leaf quality of Eryngium foetidum L.

• Autor(a) principal: Campos, R. A. S.
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Lima, G. P. P. [UNESP], Seabra Junior, S., Lin, C. M. [UNESP], Vianello, F., Tellez, F. A., Rodriguez, A. M., Sancho, I. M., Robinson, M. V., RuizAltisent, M., Ballesteros, F. R., Hernando, ECC
• Tipo de documento: Artigo de conferência
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/183953
• topic: pigments; antioxidants; DPPH; essential oil

Eryngium foetidum L. is a spice native of Central America, widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Its leaves are used as a flavoring in culinary, and it has a wide range of ethnomedicinal uses in tropical regions. The yield and quality of E. foetidum leaves are affected by light intensity and nitrogen fertilization, though it is unclear which chemical characteristics are affected. As well, the effect of these pre-harvest factors on the production of its essential oil is not known. The present study was aimed to evaluate leaf quality of E. foetidum in relation to shading and nitrogen fertilization. The study was carried out in Botucatu-SP, Brazil, in an experiment designed in subdivided parcels in casual blocks. Plants were grown in greenhouse in full sun and under 50% shade cloth. Within each light level, five rates of nitrogen fertilizer were supplied (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha(-1)) over six applications. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, total polyphenols, vitamin C, the antioxidant activity by DPPH methodology and the essential oil content were evaluated, as well as leaf yield. Plants grown under full sun showed the best results as leaf yield, polyphenol, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. Shaded plants displayed higher levels of anthocianins, chlorophyll b, carotenoids. Shading did not affect essential oil content, chlorophyll a and vitamin C. Plants fertilized with 80 160 kg N ha(-1) presented the highest leaf yield. The highest essential oil content, on the other hand, was displayed by plants grown with 0 kg N ha(-1). Moreover, nitrogen fertilization did not affect the content of pigments and antioxidants. Thus, we concluded that shading affects the yield and quality of E. foetidum leaves, while nitrogen fertilization affects only leaf yield and essential oil content. In order to obtain plants characterized by higher pigment content, we suggest the cultivation under 50% shade cloth. However, further research about the effect of shading and nitrogen fertilization on oil constituents is needed, and the work to evaluate it is in progress.