Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Research center of Agriculture and Natural Resources of East Azarbaijan
Abstract
In order to investigate the quantitative changes of essential oil during growth period (vegetative, flowering, after flowering) in Melissa officinalis, samples were collected from Arasbaran and Malekan for two years (2001 and 2002). All samples were dried in laboratory condition and then essential oils were extracted by steam distillation method. The oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and weighted. Combined analysis of data was done with C.R.D design in 3 replications. Combined analysis of data for Melissa officinalis indicated that effects of year, location and phenology phases weren’t significantly different, but the interaction of (year × location) and (location × year × phenology phases) were significantly different at 1% probability level.
Means were grouped using L.S.D (5%). Based on the results of this study, essential oil yield in Malekan was higher at first year at flowering stage (0.197%). Mean of interaction (year × location) showed that oil yield of Melissa officinalis in Malekan at first and second year were respectively (0.108 and 0.080%), and in Arasbaran were (0.035 and 0.018%).
The results of the two years showed that the average oil content at first year was more than that at second year.
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