Secondary metabolites and anatomical features of oregano leaves (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum) grown under colored meshes

Abstract

Oregano's plants were grown in different light environments, obtained with the use of colorful fabrics, in order to evaluate the content and composition of essential oil and anatomical characteristics in leaves of these plants. For this, the plants were grown in pots with capacity for 3 dm³ submitted to the following treatments: cultivation under full sun (absolute witness), shading with blue, red and gray colors. It was adopted the DIC with six repetitions. Anatomical features were evaluated of petiole and leaf, content and composition of essential oil. It is observed that modification in the light environment allows increasing the content of essential oil and it influences in the chemical composition of this secondary metabolite.