Teor e rendimento de flavonóides em calêndula (Calendula officinalis L.) cultivada com diferentes lâminas de irrigação

Abstract

Calendula officinalis L. could be used as ornamental, culinary and therapeutic. The inflorescence is used as healing and anti-inflammatory. This experiment analyzed the effect of four different irrigations depth under field conditions in the production of flavonoids in the marigold plant (Calendula officinalis L.). The water depths were estimated upon the class A pan evaporation (CPE): 0, 50, 100 and 150% CPE. The depths were applied since of the beginning flowering until the end of culture cycle. There were no statistical differences in the flavonoids content. The higher dry weight flowers and flavonoids yield were obtained with the treatment without irrigation. The higher content of proline was found stressing the overwatering treatment. The accumulated water deficit for the treatment without irrigation signalized possible death by water deficit. With the precipitation occurrence in the pre-flowering, the plant, originated in the Mediterranean Basin, answered with abundant flourishment, in mass and in number of flowers. For Presidente Prudente region (São Paulo State, Brazil), if did not occur water replacement only in the pre-flowering, it will be necessary supplementary irrigation of 200 mm to induce the maximum flowering and yield per hectare of flavonoids.