Competition between eight genotypes of chamomile [Chamomilla recutita (L.)Rauschert]

Among medicinal plants, chamomile is a species mostly cultivated in Parana state, where the genetic materials importation took place in an occasional way for years, in this investigation, the behaviour of eight chamomile geno types was observed: Argentina, BK-2, Bona, DS, Egito, Goral, Lutea and Mand irituba. The study was carried out in 1996, in the city of Pinhais, Parana, Brazil, (25 degrees 26' S and 49 degrees 16' W, 947 meter above sea); Cfb by Koeppen climate, average temperature of 24 degrees C maximum and 11 degr ees C minimum, annual rainfall average 1500 mm. The height, weight and heal th of the plants in three different ages was evaluated along with the produ ction levels at three different times. The results showed that DS was the b est genotype in terms of production and rusticity; Egito, Mandirituba and A rgentina genotypes presented precocious growth, the greatest height and con sequently the highest lodging tendency; BK-2, Bona, Lutea and Goral showed to be susceptible to Erwinia carotovora, despite the good production of BK- 2 and Bona.