EFFECT OF ROW SPACING AND SEED RATE ON FRUIT YIELD, ESSENTIAL OIL AND COMPOSITION OF ANISE (Pimpinella anisum L.)

This research was conducted to compare the relative advantages of different row spacing (15, 25 and 37.5 cm) and seed rates (6, 12 and 24 kgha(-1)) in anise cultivation in terms of fruit yield and quality characteristics. A two factor experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in split plot arrangement comprising four replicates. Results revealed that plant height, number of primary branches per plant, umbels per plant, 1000-fruit weight and fruit yield were not significantly affected by various row spacing in both seasons. However, plants grown under wider row spacing of 37.5 cm resulted in significantly higher fruit number and fruit weight per plant in both years. Plants grown with lesser seed rate produced higher yield-contributing parameters including number of primary branches, umbels, fruits and fruit weight per plant. With all the treatments essential oil concentration reached a maximum of 2.84 to 3.05%. A qualitative study showed that the effect of plant density and row spacing had no effect on the percentage of trans-anethole, gamma-himachalene and estragol in anise essential oil during 2008. In contrast, row spacing and seed rate had a significant effect on the percentages of trans-anethole,.himachalene and estragol during 2009. This effect might have been caused by different levels of infection at different row spacing and planting plant densities in 2009 with Passalora malkoffii.