Authors : F. Azarmi, H. Nazemieh and M.R. Dadpour
Abstract: The experiment was conducted in a research greenhouse using soil and floating as a soilless system. Essential oils of Aloysia citriodora L. leaves produced in these systems were extracted and their percent (based on dry weight), yield (per plant) and composition were determined. The number of leaves, leaf area and fresh and dry weight of plants were also measured. For all vegetative parameters, there was a significant difference between two growing systems and plants grown in floating system showed drastic increase compared with soil cultured ones. Growing plants in the soil had a result as 90% reduction in leaf area compared with floating system. Lemon verbena plants oil production was same in two growing systems while because of more expansion of leave and increased biomass in floating system, the yield of essential oil was higher than those of soil. The major components of essential oil was geranial, neral, α-curcumene, D-limonen, geraniol and nerol, although the relative percent of each component were different in tow growing systems. Concentration of geranial (36.32% of total oil) and neral (27/88% of total) was higher in the soil while growing plants in the planting system resulted in more D-limonene, geraniol, nerol and α-curcumene. According to the results, floating system can be defined as an efficient method for obtaining high productivity and more extraction of volatile oil in Aloysia citriodora L. plant.
F. Azarmi, H. Nazemieh and M.R. Dadpour, 2012. Growth and Essential Oil Production of Aloysia citiodora L. Grown in Greenhouse Using Soil and Floating System. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 7: 148-151.