This study aimed to evaluate biomass production, content and components of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla in different row spaces and harvest times. The experiment was conducted at the experimental area of Universidade Federal Tecnológica do Paraná - Campus Dois Vizinhos, from March 2010 to January 2012. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three replications in a factorial scheme (3 x 11), subdivided blocks allocated in three planting rows plot (1.0 x 1.0 m, 1.0 x 0.80 m, 1x 0,60 m between rows and between plants, respectively) and on subplots, 11 harvest times (October/2010, November/2010, December/2010, January/2011, February/2011, March/2011, April/2011, May/2011, June/2011, August / 2011, September/2011). The characteristics assessed were: plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry matter, content and chemical composition of essential oil. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation technique, using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed in a gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC / MS). The 1 x 1 m spacing resulted in greater height (1.57 m), leaf area (4460.3 cm²), fresh weight (1.266 g per plant), dry weight (594 g per plant) and content of essential oil (0.30%). The harvest performed in February resulted in higher levels of essential oil (0.45%). The chemical constituents of the essential oil vary with spacing and harvesting time. The highest content of citral was observed in plants cultivated at 1.0 x 1.0 m spacing and harvested from September to April.
Aloysia triphylla; planting density; seasonality
