scholarly journals Optimizing hydroponic culture media and NO3−/NH4+ ratio for improving essential oil compositions of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ahmadi ◽  
Abbas Samadi ◽  
Ebrahim Sepehr ◽  
Amir Rahimi ◽  
Sergey Shabala

AbstractMedicinal plants represent a valuable commodity due to beneficial effects of their natural products on human health, prompting a need for finding a way to optimize/increase their production. In this study, a novel growing media with various perlite particle size and its mixture with peat moss was tested for hydroponic-based production of Echinacea purpurea medicinal plant under greenhouse conditions. The plant growth parameters such as plant height, total fresh leave weight, fresh root weight, total biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf area, and essential oil compositions were assessed. Perlite particle size in the growing media was varied from very coarse (more than 2 mm) to very fine (less than 0.5 mm), and the ratio between perlite and peat moss varied from 50:50 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In addition, two nitrate (NO3−) to ammonium (NH4+) ratios (90:10 and 70:30) were tested for each growing media. The medium containing very fine-grade perlite and 50:50 v/v perlite to peat moss ratio was found to be most optimal and beneficial for E. purpurea performance, resulting in maximal plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf surface area, and chlorophyll content. It was also found that an increase in NO3−/NH4+ ratio caused a significant increase in plant growth parameters and increase the plant essential oil content. The major terpene hydrocarbons found in extract of E. purpurea with the best growth parameters were germacrene D (51%), myrcene (15%), α-pinene (12%), β-caryophyllene (11%), and 1-Pentadecene (4.4%), respectively. The percentages of these terpene hydrocarbons were increased by increasing of NO3−/NH4+ ratio. It can be concluded that decreasing the perlite particle size and increasing the NO3−/NH4+ ratio increased the plant growth parameters and essential oil compositions in E. purpurea.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ahmadi ◽  
Abbas Samadi ◽  
Ebrahim Sepehr ◽  
Amir Rahimi ◽  
Sergey Shabala

Abstract Medicinal plants represent a valuable commodity due to beneficial effects of their natural products on human health, prompting a need for finding a way to optimize/increase their production. In this study, a novel growing media with various perlite particle size and its mixture with peat moss was tested for hydroponic-based production of Echinacea purpurea medicinal plant under greenhouse conditions. The plant growth parameters such as plant height, total fresh leave weight, fresh root weight, total biomass, total chlorophyll, leaf area, and essential oil compositions were assessed. Perlite particle size in the growing media was varied from very coarse (more than 2 mm) to very fine (less than 0.5 mm), and the ratio between perlite and peat moss varied from 50:50 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In addition, two NO3-/NH4+ ratios (90:10 and 70:30) were tested for each growing media. The medium containing very fine-grade perlite and 50:50 v/v perlite to peat moss ratio was found to be most optimal and beneficial for E. purpurea performance, resulting in maximal plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf surface area, and chlorophyll content. It was also found that an increase in NO3-/NH4+ ratio caused a significant increase in plant growth parameters and increase the plant essential oil content. The major terpene hydrocarbons found in extract of E. purpurea with the best growth parameters were germacrene D (51%), myrcene (15%), α-pinene (12%), β-caryophyllene (11%), and 1-Pentadecene (4.4%), respectively. The percentages of these terpene hydrocarbons were increased by increasing of NO3-/NH4+ ratio. It can be concluded that decreasing the perlite particle size and increasing the NO3-/NH4+ ratio increased the plant growth parameters and essential oil compositions in E. purpurea.


Author(s):  
I Dewa Made Arthagama ◽  
I Made Dana ◽  
Putu Perdana Kusuma Wiguna

This research was a potted experiment carried out in a special orchid house (arnet) at the Padang Galleria Padangsambian Kelod from September to November 2019, the aim was to determine the effect of plant media and the provision of liquid organic fertilizers on the growth of dendrobium orchids. The factorial CRD pattern was the design used in this study, which consists of two factors, first, the use of growing media of wood charcoal (K), fern stems (P), and a mixture of fern stems with wood charcoal (M) and, second, the provision of liquid organic fertilizer, namely, Dewa (D), DI Grow (I), and GDM (G). The results showed that the interaction between the use of planting media and the application of liquid organic fertilizer had no significant effect on all plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and number of tillers. However, the plant medium as a single treatment had a significant effect on the number of orchid tillers, fern stems (P) as the plant medium gave the highest number of tillers, namely: 2.22 stems or 32.93% more than the growing media for wood charcoal (K) and a mixture of charcoal, wood and fern stems (M) with 1.67 tillers each


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1762
Author(s):  
Mari Marutani ◽  
Seanne Clemente

Compost-based media were examined for effects on plant growth of leafy lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in pot culture. Four types of locally sourced composts were created using different proportions of wood chips from untreated pallets and mixed tropical tree debris, food waste from restaurants, and chicken manure. Compost-based media were prepared by mixing each compost with a commercial peatmoss to create 25, 50, and 100% compost-peatmoss mixtures (by volume). In Trial One, cv. Starfighter had the greatest shoot (leaves/stems) biomass when grown in 100% compost containing wood chips, food waste, and chicken manure. In Trial Two, cvs. Starfighter and New Red Fire were examined. Growing media affected all plant growth parameters including fresh and dry shoots and roots, shoot and root length, and number of leaves. Cultivar affected all except fresh root weight. Interaction effects of growing medium and cultivar type were found for fresh shoot weight, dry root weight, shoot, and root length. Regression analyses indicated increases in amount of compost in growing media increased dry shoot and root weights. Composts containing recyclable organic materials can be an alternative to commercial media in pot culture.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Ahmadi ◽  
Abbas Samadi ◽  
Ebrahim Sepehr ◽  
Amir Rahimi ◽  
Sergey Shabala

AbstractMedicinal plants are considered as one of the most important sources of chemical compounds, so preparing a suitable culture media for medicinal plant growth is a critical factor. The present study is aimed to improve the caffeic acid derivatives and alkylamides percentages of Echinacea purpurea root extract in hydroponic culture media with different perlite particle size and NO3−/NH4+ ratios. Perlite particle size in the growing media was varied as very coarse perlite (more than 2 mm), coarse perlite (1.5–2 mm), medium perlite (1–1.5 mm), fine perlite (0.5–1 mm), and very fine perlite (less than 0.5 mm) in different ratios to peat moss (including pure perlite, 50:50 v/v, 30:70 v/v, and pure peat moss). Two NO3−/NH4+ ratios (90:10 and 70:30) were tested in each growing media. All phytochemical analyses were performed according to standard methods using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that the E. purpurea grown in the medium containing very fine-grade perlite with 50:50 v/v perlite to peat moss ratio had the maximum caffeic acid derivatives, including chicoric acid (17 mg g−1 DW), caftaric acid (6.3 mg g−1 DW), chlorogenic acid (0.93 mg g−1 DW), cynarin (0.84 mg g−1 DW), and echinacoside (0.73 mg g−1 DW), as well as, alkylamides (54.21%). The percentages of these phytochemical compounds increased by decreasing perlite particle size and increasing of NO3−/NH4+ ratio. The major alkylamide in the E. purpurea root extract was dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z-10 (E/Z)-tetraenoic acid isobutylamide in all treatments, ranging from 31.12 to 54.21% of total dry weight. It can be concluded that optimizing hydroponic culture media and nutrient solution has significant effects on E. purpurea chemical compounds.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Sloan ◽  
Raul I. Cabrera ◽  
Peter A.Y. Ampim ◽  
Steve A. George ◽  
Wayne A. Mackay

Organic and inorganic amendments are often used to improve chemical and physical properties of soils. The objective of this study was to determine how the inclusion of light-weight expanded shale in various organic matter blends would affect plant performance. Four basic blends of organic growing media were prepared using traditional or alternative organic materials: 1) 75% pine bark (PB) + 25% sphagnum peatmoss (PM), 2) 50% PB + 50% wastewater biosolids (BS), 3) 100% municipal yard waste compost (compost), and 4) 65% PB + 35% cottonseed hulls (CH). Light-weight expanded shale was then blended with each of these mixtures at rates of 0%, 15%, 30%, and 60% (v/v). Vinca (Catharanthus roseus), verbena (Verbena hybrida), and shantung maple (Acer truncatum) were planted into the growing media after they were transferred into greenhouse pots. Vinca growth was monitored for 3 months before harvesting aboveground plant tissue to determine total biomass yield and elemental composition. Verbena growth was monitored for 6 months, during which time aboveground plant tissue was harvested twice to determine total biomass yield. Additionally, aboveground vinca plant tissue was analyzed for nutrients and heavy metal concentrations. In the absence of expanded shale, verbena and shantung maple trees produced more aboveground biomass in the 50-PB/50-BS blends, whereas vinca grew more biomass in the pure compost blends. Inclusion of expanded shale in the various organic matter blends generally had a negative effect on plant growth, with the exception of shantung maple growth in the 65-PB/35-CH blend. Reduced plant growth was probably due to a lower concentration of nutrients in the growing media. Macro- and micronutrient uptake was generally reduced by addition of expanded shale to the organic growing media. Results suggest that organic materials that have been stabilized through prior decomposition, such as compost or PM, are safe and reliable growing media, but expanded shale offers few benefits to a container growing medium except in cases where additional porosity is needed.


Author(s):  
Lynda Kelvin Asogwa ◽  
Frank C. Ogbo

Aims: To isolate Plant Growth Promoting Bacillus strain from maize roots, to evaluate its biocontrol potentials and to characterize the isolate using16S rRNA sequencing. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, between February 2019 and March 2020. Methodology: The isolation of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) from maize roots was done using Pikovskaya (PVK) agar. Quantitative determination of phosphate was carried out using PVK broth. Evaluations of other plant growth promoting properties were carried out such as IAA, etc. Fusarium and Enterobacter plant pathogens were isolated from diseased maize plants. The in vitro antagonism effects of the PGPR isolates against the pathogens were analyzed using the dual culture plate technique. The pot experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design. Plant characteristics such as plant height, shoot  and root weight, chlorophyll content, as well as disease assessment were recorded accordingly. The organisms were identified using phenotypic and molecular methods. Results: Seven PGPR bacteria were isolated from maize (Zea mays) roots using PVK agar. Aneurinibacillus migulanus gave the highest solubilization index of 4.21 while isolate IS48 gave the lowest solubilization index of 1.47. A. migulanus produced IAA, ammonia and cellulase enzyme but no hydrogen cyanide. The organism showed antagonism activity against the two tested phytopathogens. In the pot experiment, A. migulanus treated plants showed a statistically insignificant difference in maize plant height at P=0.05 but gave significant increases in shoot and root wet weights. The organism offered 83.33% and 71.43% protection against Enterobacter and Fusarium pathogens respectively in the pot experiment. Conclusion: A. migulanus solubilized phosphate in addition to other plant growth promoting  properties. It showed biocontrol potentials both in vitro and in vivo and thus can be used as substitute for synthetic agrochemicals.


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 226-227
Author(s):  
Carol E. Leda ◽  
Robert D. Wright

Abstract Boxwood liners, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, were container-grown for two years in a pine bark/peat moss medium amended with various particle sizes of dolomitic limestone. Adjustment of pH was more effectively accomplished with the finer particles. All treatments resulted in greater plant growth than the untreated control. A surface application of a commercially available pulverized dolomitic limestone was also effective in increasing the pH above the control treatment, and plants grown with the surface applied treatment were as large as any of the incorporated treatments.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1053E-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent D. Kobayashi ◽  
Andrew F. Kawabata ◽  
Joanne S Lichty

Photoselective shadecloths that manipulate light quality may enable nursery growers to achieve desired plant growth. This ability to manage plant habit could give growers an additional nonchemical tool to improve potted plant quality. The objective of this study was to determine growth and flowering responses of potted Dracaena and Anthurium plants to four shadecloths. Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig' and Dracaena marginata `Colorama' cane top-cuttings were placed in 70% black cinder: 30% peat moss media. Anthurium `Lola' liners were transplanted into 100% black cinder medium. Plants were grown in a greenhouse under 70% shadecloths: black, gray, red, and blue. Four months after planting, Dracaena `Janet Craig' had more new leaves under red shadecloth (10.4) compared to other shadecloths (8.9–9.3). Leaf area was less with red shadecloth (340 cm2) than other treatments (380-388 cm2). Plants under the red shadecloth had the lowest grower evaluation scores (5.4; 1 = poor, 10 = excellent) than those under other shadecloths (7.2–8.2), but all plants were considered marketable. Dracaena `Colorama' plants under red shadecloth had the greater plant height increase (20.1 cm) than those under other shadecloths (10.1–13.2 cm). Red shadecloth resulted in more new leaves (26.2) compared to other treatments (18.0–21.4). Anthurium `Lola' flower height 9 months after transplanting was less under red shadecloth (23.0 cm) than under black (33.0 cm). The number of flowers/pot was greater under red shadecloth (3.17) compared to those under other shadecloths (0.50–1.33). Flower size was greater (35.2 cm2) under red shadecloth than under black (20.0 cm2). Photoselective shadecloths may be used to nonchemically manipulate plant growth and improve the quality of potted Dracaena and Anthurium plants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1011-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johny Joseph ◽  
Jayaram Reddy ◽  
D Sayantan

Nickel is an essential element for normal physiological functions in plants. At higher doses (>50 mg/kg, as per WHO) it is toxic to plants and humans, which can bring about oxidative stress affecting the physiological functions of plants and is also considered carcinogenic to human beings. To manage nickel pollution in environment, proper chemical or phytoremediation techniques are required. In this regard nickel accumulator plants would offer a cost effective and environmental friendly phytoremediation method. In the present study, the nickel phyto-accumulation potential of Amaranthus viridis from soil was evaluated to check the tolerance level and the impact on selected morphological parameters like total biomass, plant height, root length and number of leaves. Nickel uptake by A. viridis was studied from Ni contaminated soil amended with20, 40, 60, 80 mg/Kg of Ni exposure under controlled conditions. Toxic effects and tolerance of the plant to toxic doses of nickel was evaluated by correlating the uptake per gram of biomass with various parameters of plant like its height, biomass, root length and, number of leaves.  Supply dependent maximum nickel uptake of 108 µg/gm and corresponding decrease in growth parameters were recorded up to 60 mg/Kg exposure. This study indicates the uptake of nickel by A. viridis increases with increase in supply up to 60mg/kg and beyond 60 mg/kg, the uptake decreases. The study also shows uptake of nickel per gram of biomass has a significant  negative correlation mainly with parameters like plant height (R= -0.71 at 0.05 level of significance) and total biomass (R = -0.83 at 0.05 level of significance) where as other parameters like length of root and number of leavers are not significantly affected (P>0.05) with uptake of nickel per gram of biomass.


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