Physical quality and chemical composition of Foeniculum vulgare seeds

Abstract

The fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), belongs to the Apiaceae family, has aromatic, condiments and medicinal properties and can be used in natural medicine and cosmetic industry. However, its production is being unviable due to the attack of the aphids species Hiadaphis foeniculi, which mainly attacks the inflorescence of the plant, sucking sap and depleting the seeds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physical quality and chemical composition of fennel seeds produced by plants attacked and not attacked by Hiadaphis foeniculi. Five lots of seeds harvested separately by treatments in an experimental field in Lagoa Seca-PB were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications in a factorial (2 x 5), two treatments in the field (seeds produced by plants attacked by aphids or not) and five seed lots. The following variables were evaluated: water content, thousand seed weight, number of seeds per kilogram, biometry (length, width and thickness) and the contents of total lipids and crude protein. The attack of aphids significantly compromised the physical quality and chemical composition of the seeds of fennel, reducing mainly the weight, size and oil content.