CRESCIMENTO DE MENTHA x PIPERITA SOB DIFERENTES LUMINOSIDADES E REPOSIÇÕES HÍDRICAS

Abstract

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) is an aromatic medicinal herb from the Lamiaceae family widely used for phytotherapy. Two experiments were carried out, one in the rainy season and the other in the dry season. To evaluate the height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves, number of branches, and relative chlorophyll content variables in the rainy season factorial design in split split plots 5 x 3 x 4 was used, being five ages of plants (15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days ), three cultivation environments (full sun and environments with commercial screen with 50% and 70% shading), and four water replacements (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% water); in the dry season, the factorial design was split split plots 6 x 3 x 3 with six ages (15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days), three cultivation environments (full sun and environments with commercial screen with 50% and 70% shading), and three water replacements (50%, 75%, and 100% water). The factorial design 3 x 4 with three environments and four water replacements was used for the variables related to fresh and dry mass and the relationship of vegetative organs, in the rainy season; the factorial design 3 x 3 with three environments and three water replacements with the addition of fluorescence was used in the dry season. The plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, stem diameter, fresh and dry mass of the organs, as well as the relationships among the vegetative organs responded positively in relation to environments and water replacement. The relative chlorophyll content in both cultivation seasons showed a triple interaction. Fluorescence showed better results in shading environments.