Influence of seeding date and harvest stage on yields and essential oil composition of three cultivars of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) grown in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in two locations in Nova Scotia, Canning and Truro, during 2001 and 2002 to determine the effect of seeding date and harvest stage on productivity and composition of essential oil from Anethum graveolens L. ‘Mesten, Dukat’ and ‘Hercules’. Delayed seeding generally reduced yields and altered the concentration of some essential oil components. Both dill seed and dill weed oil from this study had compositions similar to commercially available oil and reported dill oil compositions. The seed oil had moderate to high carvone content (17.9–64.0%) as is desired for the international market. Carvone content in oil increased as the plants matured. Lower yields and essential oil yields were obtained from cv. Hercules compared with the other two cultivars. Herbage yields and essential oil content were typical for the plant species; seed yields were below average, but there is potential to increase these yields through different seeding dates, harvest dates and investigation into optimum nutrient requirements. Key words: Dill, Anethum graveolens, Apiaceae, essential oil, hydrodistillation, steam distillation