Crop adaptation and modeling for prediction of essential oil production and quality of a geraniol rich strain of Cymbopogon commutatus (Steud.) Stapf [RL(J) CC1] using energy indices

Abstract

Occurrence of gerniol and geranyl acetate as major chemical constituents were reported in the essential oil of Cymbopogon commutauts (Steud.) Stapf. A selectant having H”80% total geraniol and coded as RRL (J) CC1 has been studied by way of quantifying growth response coefficient values of morpho-economic character, which was 1.0 signifying its good adaptability under subtropical environment. Leaf adaptation has been quantified as phyllochron which exhibited 519.6 and 775.6 degree-days for production of single mature leaf during first and second harvests, respectively. Floral adaptation was quantified as photoperiod response coefficient b=412 (degreedays/ day-length). Based on two years pooled observation (2001-2002), regional crop models have been developed for prediction of essential oil production and its quality as total geraniol content (%) by using most-efficient energy indices viz., phenothermal index and thermo/photo ratio.

Keywords

• Adaptation
• Cymbopogon commutatus
• Degree-days, Energy summation indices
• Geranyl acetate
• Heat use efficiency
• Phenothermal index