Essential Oil Yield of Corymbia citriodora as Influenced by Harvesting Age, Seasonal Variation and Provenance at Citrifine Plantations in Northern Malawi

Abstract

Essential Oil Yield of Corymbia citriodora as Influenced by Harvesting Age, Seasonal Variation and Provenance at Citrifine Plantations in Northern Malawi Corymbia citriodora grown in Citrifine Plantations in Chikangawa, Northern Malawi was evaluated for essential oil yield as influenced by harvesting age, season variation and provenance at the plant age of the three and four years. All the parameters harvesting age, season variation and provenance significantly affected essential oil yield of Corymbia citriodora leaves. Citronellal was the major compound (˃80%) in the oil followed by citronellol (5.3 to 7.7%), linalool (2.1 to 2.2%), isopulegol (1.2 to 2.1%) and citronellyl acetate (0.6 to 0.8%). Essential oil yield decreased with increasing plant age. Cold-wet season (May to August) particularly in the month of August produced significantly (P<0.001) higher essential oil yield than warm-wet and dry seasons at both harvesting age of three and four years. The differences in essential oil yield due to season can be attributed to changes in temperature and humidity, also to different stage metabolism.