title: Irrigation dose and plant density affect the volatile composition and sensory quality of dill (Anethum graveolens L.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two independent field experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of (i) three irrigation treatments (ID0 = 1585 m3ha-1, considered as a control; ID1 = 1015 m3ha-1; and ID2 = 2180 m3ha-1) and (ii) three plant density treatments (PD0 = 5.56 plants m-2, considered as a control; PD1 = 4.44 plants m-2; and PD2 = 7.41 plants m-2) on the production, volatile composition of essential oil, and sensory quality of dill.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest plant yield was obtained with intermediate conditions of both irrigation dose (ID0) and plant density (PD0). The main compounds of the essential oil were α-phellandrene, dill ether and β-phellandrene. The highest irrigation dose (ID2) produced the highest concentrations of most of the main compounds: α-phellandrene (49.5 mg per 100 g), β-phellandrene (6.89 mg per 100 g) and limonene (2.49 mg per 100 g). A similar pattern was found for the highest plant density (PD2): α-phellandrene (71.0 mg per 100 g), dill ether (16.7 mg per 100 g) and β-phellandrene (9.70 mg per 100 g). The use of descriptive sensory analysis helped in reaching a final decision, and the dill plants with the highest sensory quality were those of the ID2 and PD0 treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The final recommendation is to use the irrigation dose ID2 and the plant density PD2 if the objective is to produce dill samples with the highest aromatic and sensory quality; however, if the only objective is to produce high amounts of dill, the best options are ID0 and PD0. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Research Group 'Food Quality and Safety', Department of Agro-Food Technology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Carretera Beniel, km 3.2, E-03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Zaeddi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Carretera de Beniel, km 3.2, E-03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Tomé
authors.affiliation: Research Group 'Food Quality and Safety', Department of Agro-Food Technology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Carretera Beniel, km 3.2, E-03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Calín-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Research Group 'Food Quality and Safety', Department of Agro-Food Technology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Carretera Beniel, km 3.2, E-03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burló
authors.affiliation: Research Group 'Food Quality and Safety', Department of Agro-Food Technology, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Carretera Beniel, km 3.2, E-03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel A
authors.initials: ÁA
authors.lastname: Carbonell-Barrachina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D028524:Anethum graveolens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077222:Limonene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D009812:Odorants; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D013729:Terpenes; C058582:beta-phellandrene; C005403:alpha phellandrene; D000077222:Limonene
keywords: Anethum graveolens L; GC/MS; descriptive sensory analysis; hydrodistillation; plant yield; volatile compounds