Determination of yield and quality characteristics of Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) plant in Çukurova conditions

Patchouli is a valuable plant, which is traded in the world and whose essential oil is important in terms of its therapeutic properties and widely used in the perfumery industry. In this study was determined the yield and quality characteristics of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth.) plant in Çukurova conditions. In the research, harvest were made in 3 different periods: before flowering, full flowering and after flowering. As a result of the research, the highest plant height (47.39 cm) after flowering, number of branches (16.13 units), fresh herb yield (2106.78 kg/da), fresh leaf yield (1022.36 kg/da), dry herb yield (458.74 kg/da) and dry leaf yield (209.88 kg/da) was obtained during the full flowering period. The highest essential oil yield (1.77%) was obtained before flowering and the essential oil yield (207.36 kg/da) was obtained during the full flowering period. The main components of essential oil are Acetophenone %41.56, Patchouli alcohol %28.30, trans-Nerolidol %17.17, while other components are Caryophyllene %8.71, α-Guaiene %5.86, Seychellene %4.84, α-Bulnesene %2.53, Pogostole %1.24 respectively, which were characterised by GC/MS (+/-0.5, n=3).