Pre-harvest phenometric characteristics of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) under different agro-edaphoclimatic conditions

Abstract

Anise has carminative, antiseptic and antiviral properties. In order to incorporate new production zones in Argentina knowledge about its reproductive behavior needs to be improved to optimize yields. The objective of this study was to survey the main morphological characteristics at fructification stage, and the yield expression at pre-harvest Different locations at the Pampeana zone were surveyed during 1996/97, 98/99, 99/00 and 00/01. The plants were randomly sampled and recorded: High plant (H), Number of nodes (Nn), branches (Nb), total umbels (TU). Aerial dry matter weight, (ADW), Grain dry matter weight (GDW) and Remainder dry matter weight per plant (RDW). The data recorded were analyzed through regression analysis and correlation coefficients (R²), averages and standard deviation (SD) were obtained. The H varied between 52. 3 and 45.17 cm., on average 49.57cm (SD:7.25). The Nn varied between 8.33 and 13.9 nodes.plant (DE: 3,55). The Nb showed an average of 9.66 Nb.plant (SD: 2.55). The TU on average was 23.96 umbels.plant (SD:15.24). Related to ADW and GDW these measures were recorded just at Luján (Lu) and El Trébol (ET) (99/00), the results were higher at El Trébol (7.3 and 2.54 g.plant, respectively) than at Luján (3.93 and 1.39 g.planta ). The relation GDW.ADW was 35.37 and 34.79% for Lu and ET respectively. The WA varied from 2.57 to 2.96g (SD: 0.57). The comparisons in pairs of (Hy Nu, H y Nr, H y UT, Nr y UT) didn't show any relation between the variables (low R²). The following relations matched a linear function: TU and ADW (R²:0.8711); TU and GDW (R²: 0.7948); TU and RDW (R²: 0.8872); GDW and PSR RDW (R: 0.8532) and GDW and ADW (R²: 0.9386). The higher aerial dry matter at pre-harvest and harvest determines a higher number of umbels per plant and a higher yield per plant in anise crop.