Influence of seasonality on essential oils yield in Southern Brazil

Abstract

The diverse biological activities attributed to essential oils (EOs) mean that the market for these products is on the rise. Today it is known that several factors influence the quantity and quality of these secondary metabolites, that is, their production responds variably to biotic and abiotic factors, including seasonality. In order to understand the effects of seasonality on EO yield, ten aromatic species were studied over two years, with repeated collections in four different seasons. The results presented here show that EO yield varied in response to different seasons for Artemísia camphorata, Baccharis trimera, Cupressus sempervirens, Ocimum basilicum, Melaleuca alternifolia and Mentha sp. However for Corimbia citriodora, Foeniculum vulgare, Pinus elliottii and Schinus terebinthifolius the yield did not vary signifivcantly. The information generated in this study, although preliminary, adds to the research in order to propose a standardization in the management of extractions, focusing on the most suitable periods for collections, in order to enhance the yield of these rare products of plant secondary metabolism.