Características de la demanda de turistas de alojamiento turístico privado

Chamomile is a foreign species in the Chilean flora [9], first introduced in the Catalog of the

Cultivated Species in Santiago’s Botanical Garden [12].

The name chamomile in Chile is applied to several species of the Asteraceae family [10], but Common chamomile is the most commonly used [15]. Several authors have referred to this plant using a Latin term [4], widely accepted in Europe as Matricaria recutita L. (Chamomilla recutita L. [Rauschert]) [2, 3], also in America in the taxonomy of commercial species [7] as well as in Chile [5]. In Europe, it is well known as Common chamomile in England, Echte Kamille and FIGURE 5.8.6 Argentinian chamomile harvester

Gemeine Kamille in Germany, Camomille vulgaire in France, Camomilla in Italy, and Manzanilla común in Spain [13]. The synonym Matricaria chamomilla L. is accepted [10, 14]. Some authors

in Chile have called it Chamomilla recutita L. (Rauschert), according to the denomination for Chile in the catalogs of R.A. Philippi [12] and F. Philippi [11].

5.9.2 USE

In Chile, the chamomile shows the highest consumption among the medical herbs, in folk medicine as well as for use in the herbal tea and infusions industry.

The common chamomile was first mentioned in Chile in 1881. There is a great deal of information about its use since the arrival of the Spaniards in South America [5, 6]. Later, during the German colonization in southern Chile, from the year 1854, the common chamomile is men- tioned as being used for medicinal purposes in the chronicles of that time.

The first industrial crops were harvested in 1977, and they were developed by Puelche S.A. to export flowers [1]. These are the first records of this activity in the country, using German seed. Later, in 1980, some rural rustic crops for obtaining dry flowers used in the popular pharmacopoeia were found in villages near the town of Traiguén. This material was used in comparison trials with the material from the experimental crops using German and Argentinean seeds.

The results of these trials showed that the naturally selected and acclimatized seeds in Chile produce a sweet flower, whose quality can be compared to the German product, and proved much better than the Argentinean product, which presents a more bitter taste. This Argentinean chamomile represent mostly a bisabolol oxide B-type.

Puelche S.A. started working on selecting the seeds, isolating individuals of special flowering precocity and homogeneity. From this, Puelche S.A. was able to develop a high-purity line, which has been cultivated until today. Since 1984, this variety of sweet chamomile has been grown to be packed for herbal tea infusions and commercialized as Matricaria recutita L., type Manzanilla Primavera Puelche.

According the analysis, the Manzanilla Primavera Puelche represents a bisabolol oxide A-type and its composition is as follows:

The industrial use of the chamomile for infusion in individual teabags started increasing in 1980 in Chile. Before this happened, the offer was provided by rural suppliers, which were quickly replaced by a consistent offer. This allowed an interesting development of the infusion industry in Chile, though there were sporadic imports from Argentina. The offer of an excellent quality product allowed a sustained development of the Chilean Packing Companies until the present day. Essential oil: 761.81 mg/100 g Chamazulene: 12.47 mg/100 g Bisabolol oxide A: 105.97 mg/100 g Bisabolol oxide B: 26.75 mg/100 g α-Bisabolol: 8.81 mg/100 g cis-Dicicloether: 56.36 mg/100 g trans-Dicicloether: 4.01 mg/100 g

5.9.3 CULTIVATION

According to López [8], chamomile’s habitat is found in Mediterranean climate, between 0 and 1000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). It is easily adaptable to different types of soils, preferably the silica-clayish type, deep and fresh, avoiding excess moisture.

Selecting clean and fresh soils, and using artificial irrigation, helps achieve an optimum phyto- sanitary condition.

The Puelche chamomile cultivation program considers handling 100% tech-irrigation surfaces, using Side-Roll.

The seed time goes from May to August every year, depending on the seed land, type of irrigation, and crop rotation periods.

The irrigation is performed using the Side-Roll system, using clean weed-free water, which helps to obtain weed-freer soils year after year in the yearly rotation of crops. Roll sprinkling irrigation is also used in new soils being added to the cultivation area. Other growers prefer organic cultivation.

5.9.3.1 Sowing

Cover sowing is performed using selected seed of Manzanilla Primavera Puelche or seeds from Europe. The dose is normally 6–8 kg/ha. Before sowing, the seeds are mixed with the fertilizer, the dose varying, depending on the soil analysis.

5.9.3.2 Weed Control

In Puelche a weed control plan was developed, determined by the rotation of chamomile crops. Average of soil characteristics:

pH: 7.1

Organic matter: 4.2%

N: 6.3 ppm

P: 11.0 ppm

K: 190 ppm

Average fertilization per hectare

50–80 kg: Nitrogen 100–120 kg: Phosphorus 50–70 kg: Potassium 15–20 kg: Sulphur 10–15 kg: Magnesium 30–40 kg: Calcium

The rotation considers an intermediate cleaning crop once a year, using oats sown in Decem- ber–January every year. These seed are sown over the stubble formed by the chamomile that has been immediately incorporated after the harvest.

This rotation of crops allows a weed control; the main species are:

Convolvulus arvensis L. Polygonum persicaria L. Veronica persica Poiret Raphanus raphanistrum L.

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medikus Galega officinalis L.

Spergula arvensis L. Plantago lanceolata L. Echium vulgare L. Silene galica L.

Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. Anthemis cotula L.

Chenopodium album L.

Taraxacum officinale G. Weber ex Wigg.

5.9.3.3 Harvest

The chamomile harvest starts in November using machines that cut and select the floral capitulums (Figures 5.9.1., 5.9.2, 5.9.3).

The drying process is performed in tunnels at a controlled temperature of 45ºC.

Associated with harvest we can find insects that naturally live in the farm under chamomile crops, showing healthy living conditions for the crops.

FIGURE 5.9.1 Handpicking with a special comb. TF4015_C005.fm Page 153 Friday, April 8, 2005 2:23 PM

These insects are1_:

Schistocerca sp. (Orthoptera, Acridiidae)

Megalometis cacicus Kuschel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) Naupactus xanthographus (Germar) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) Chrysolina gemellata (Rossi) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Pycnosiphorus costatus Beuesh (Coleoptera, Lucanidae) Astylus gayi Solier (Coleoptera, Dasytidae)

Hylamorpha elegans (Burmeister) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) FIGURE 5.9.2 Tractor-drawn picking cart.

FIGURE 5.9.3 Chamomile harvester (Argentine type).

1 _{We thank Professor Dr. Andrés O. Angulo (Biologist/Entomologist, University of Concepción) for the exact determination} of insects.

Praocis curta Solier (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) Colletes cognatus Smith (Hymenoptera, Colletidae) Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Synhgrapha gammoides (Blanchard) (Lepidoptera, Noctidae)