title: The influence of meteorological factors on growth and vegetation process of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton in Lithuania.
abstract: The results of a study on the dependence of growth and vegetation process of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton upon meteorological factors are presented in the article. The investigations were conducted at Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus University during vegetation periods in 2001-2005. The object of investigations was Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, a medicinal annual herbaceous plant of Lamiaceae Lindl. family, native of Eastern Asia, which passes the whole development cycle under climatic conditions of Central Lithuania. The duration of vegetation period of Perilla frutescens on the average is 167 days. The earliest beginning of vegetation and optimal climatic conditions for growth are when hydrothermic coefficient reaches 1.60-1.80 (conditions of excessive humidity). Optimal climatic conditions for massive flowering and seed maturation are observed when hydrothermic coefficient decreases to 1.20 - then massive flowering starts 10 days earlier and lasts 25 days longer. A strong correlation was found between massive flowering and hydrothermic coefficient (r(2)=0.9408). Using mathematical-statistical methods, the consistent patterns of growth and vegetation process of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton were determined, specifying the time for raw material preparation what determines its quality and quantity.
authors.affiliation: Kaunas Botanical Garden, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. o.ragazinskiene@bs.vdu.lt
authors.forename: Ona
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ragazinskiene
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seinauskiene
authors.forename: Valdimaras
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Janulis
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jankauskaite
authors.forename: Arvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milasius
mesh_terms: D002980:Climate; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006813:Humidity; D008097:Lithuania; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D031344:Perilla frutescens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors