Planta Med 2012; 78 - PC8
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320357

Shade levels on yield and chemical composition of the leaf essential oil of Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miquel

L Chau Ming 1, R Souza Mattana 1, M Aparecida Ribeiro Vieira 1, A Balbino Ferreira 1, M Ortiz Mayo Marques 1, 2, J Abramo Marchese 3
  • 1UNESP – Agronomical Sciences College – Department of Plant Production, Horticulture Sector, Botucatu, SP, Zip Code 18.603.970
  • 2IAC -Center of Research and Development of Genetic Resources, Campinas,
  • 3UTFPR – Biochemistry and Plant Physiology Laboratory – Pato Branco, PR – Brasil

Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miquel, is a Brazilian medicinal species that belongs to the Piperaceae family and popularly called as “pariparoba” and “caapeba”. It grows in regions rich in humus, humidity and under the shade of trees, wich contributes for its best growth as it is considered as a sciophyte species. The present work aims to study the effect of shade on the yield and chemical composition of essential oil of P. umbellata leaves. Nine-month-old seedlings were planted and subjected to three shade levels (30%, 50%, 70%) and full sun; the experimental design was in randomized blocks, with 4 treatments and 6 replications, in split-spot in time scheme. Two following harvests of aerial part were taken (seven and nineteen months after planting). Essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and chemically analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest essential oil yield was observed in second harvest and plants under 30% shade. Twenty-six chemical substances were identified, of which trans-nerolidol was predominant.