Determining the productivity and quality of achillea species (Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and Achillea asplenifolia Vent.) at different harvest times in Cukurova conditions

Since ancient times, the leaves and flowers of the Achillea species have been used as medicine, in cosmetics and in the food industry. Plant height, number of branches, green herb yield, drug herb yield, drug flower yield, essential oil content, yield and composition of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. L. and Achillea asplenifolia Vent. species at different harvets times (beginning of flowering, full flowering and after flowering) were investigated in Çukurova conditions. The trial was conducted in 2020 according to the split plots trial design.In the conditions of our region, especially the number of branches (31.86 units), green herb yield (959.85 kg/da), drug herb yield (239.96 kg/da), drug flower yield (111.93 kg/da) and essential oil yields of the Bulgarian origin A. asplenifolia Vent. species ( 35.94 l/da) was determined to give the best results. Among the harvest times, the highest results in terms of green herb yield (1051.82 kg/da) and drug herb yield (262.95 kg/da) were obtained from full bloom time harvest. The composition of essential oils was found to be Eucalypto Santolina alcohol, which was the highest essential component in Achillea biebersteinii Afan. species, while Camphor/(+)-2-Bornanone was found in Achillea asplenifolia Vent. species. Eucalypto and endo-Borneol are common components found in high amounts in both species. Santolina alcohol β-Pinene, Camphor/(+)-2-Bornanone and Chamazulene in Achillea biebersteinii Afan. species are among the highest yielding components in Achillea asplenifolia Vent. species.