Dynamics of Essential Oil ofCymbopogon citratus(DC) Stapf. Under Rust Disease Indices

Abstract

Severe outbreaks of leaf rust disease (Puccinia nakanishikii) can occur on commercial plantations of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (West Indian lemongrass) causing serious losses to herb and oil yield. Present investigation revealed that healthy leaves yielded 0.80% oil, while the leaves with 75.80 percent disease index (PDI) gave a recovery of 0.50% oil with a reduction of 37.50% in yield. This oil yield reduction is accompanied by a decrease in the geranial, an increase in the neral and an increase in the myrcene content of the oil.