scholarly journals Effects of Nutrient Fertility on Growth and Alkaloidal Content in Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengzi Zhang ◽  
Abhisheak Sharma ◽  
Francisco León ◽  
Bonnie Avery ◽  
Roger Kjelgren ◽  
...  

Leaves harvested from the Southeast Asian tree Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) have a history of use as a traditional ethnobotanical source of medicine to combat fatigue, improve work productivity, and to reduce opioid-related withdrawal symptoms. Kratom leaves contain an array of alkaloids thought to be responsible for the bioactivity reported by users. Interest in the consumptive effects of kratom has led to its recent popularity and use in North America, Western Europe, and Australia. Although the chemistry and pharmacology of select kratom alkaloids are understood, studies have not examined the influence of production environment on growth and alkaloidal content. To directly address this need, 68 kratom trees were vegetatively propagated from a single mother stock to reduce genetic variability and subjected to four varying fertilizer application rates. Leaves were analyzed for chlorophyll concentration, biomass, and alkaloidal content to understand the physiological response of the plant. While increasing rates of fertilizer promoted greater plant growth, relationships with alkaloidal content within leaves were highly variable. Fertility rate had little influence on the concentration of mitragynine, paynantheine, speciociliatine, mitraphylline, and corynoxine per leaf dry mass. 7-Hydroxymitragynine was below the lower limit of quantification in all the analyzed leaf samples. Low to medium rates of fertilizer, however, maximized concentrations of speciogynine, corynantheidine, and isocorynantheidine per leaf dry mass, suggesting a promotion of nitrogen allocation for secondary metabolism occurred for these select alkaloids. Strong correlations (r2 = 0.86) between extracted leaf chlorophyll and rapid, non-destructive chlorophyll evaluation (SPAD) response allowed for development of a reliable linear model that can be used to diagnose nutrient deficiencies and allow for timely adjustment of fertilization programs to more accurately manage kratom cultivation efforts. Results from this study provide a greater understanding of the concentration and synthesis of nine bioactive alkaloids in fresh kratom leaves and provide foundational information for kratom cultivation and production.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MENGZI ZHANG ◽  
Abhisheak Sharma ◽  
Francisco León ◽  
Bonnie Avery ◽  
Roger Kjelgren ◽  
...  

The dose-dependent consumptive effect of kratom and its potential application as an alternative source of medicine to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms has brought considerable attention to this plant. Increased interest in the application and use of kratom has emerged globally, including North America. Although the chemistry and pharmacology of major kratom alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are well documented, foundational information on the impact of plant production environment on growth and kratom alkaloids synthesis is unavailable. To directly address this need, kratom plant growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and alkaloid concentration were evaluated under three lighting conditions: outdoor full sun, greenhouse unshaded, and greenhouse shaded. Nine kratom alkaloids were quantified using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. Contents of six alkaloids to include: mitragynine, speciogynine, speciociliatine, mitraphylline, coynantheidine, and isocorynantheidine were not significantly impacted by lighting conditions, whereas 7-hydroxymitragynine was below the lower limit of quantification across all treatments. However, paynantheine concentration per leaf dry mass was increased by 40% and corynoxine was increased by 111% when grown under shade conditions in a greenhouse compared to outdoor full sun. Additionally, total alkaloid yield per plant was maximized when plants were under such conditions. Greenhouse cultivation generally promoted height and width extension, leaf number, leaf area, average leaf size, and total leaf dry mass, compared to outdoor full sun condition. Rapid, non-destructive chlorophyll evaluation correlated well (r2 = 0.68) with extracted chlorophyll concentrations. Given these findings, production efforts where low-light conditions can be implemented are likely to maximize plant biomass and total leaf alkaloid production.


CERNE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadne Felício Lopo de Sá ◽  
Sérgio Valiengo Valeri ◽  
Mara Cristina Pessoa da Cruz ◽  
José Carlos Barbosa ◽  
Gustavo Machado Rezende ◽  
...  

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of potassium and soil moisture levels on the growth of Corymbia citriodora plants. Four doses of potassium were applied (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg.dm-3) and three soil moisture levels were established(50-80%, 65-80% and 80% of maximum soil field capacity). The experiment was a 4x3 factorial arrangement of treatments within a randomized complete design with six replications for each treatment and one pot with two plants for each plot. At 90 days after planting, the plant growth parameters: survival rate, height, stem diameter, leaf area, relative chlorophyll concentration, leaf dry mass, stem and branches dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass and leaf macronutrient contents were measured. High soil moisture content is necessary for Corymbia citriodora seedlings at nursery stage. Effects of the K doses were not observed in plants, even when they were cultivated in a soil with a low content of this nutrient.


1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 944-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moacyr Bernardino Dias-Filho

Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schultz (Convolvulaceae) and Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich) Vahl. (Verbenaceae), two weeds found in pastures and crop areas in Brazilian Amazonia, were grown in controlled environment cabinets under high (800-1000 µmol m-² s-¹) and low (200-350 µmol m-² s-¹) light regimes during a 40-day period. For both species leaf dry mass and leaf area per total plant dry mass, and leaf area per leaf dry mass were higher for low-light plants, whereas root mass per total plant dry mass was higher for high-light plants. High-light S. cayennensis allocated significantly more biomass to reproductive tissue than low-light plants, suggesting a probably lower ability of this species to maintain itself under shaded conditions. Relative growth rate (RGR) in I. asarifolia was initially higher for high-light grown plants and after 20 days started decreasing, becoming similar to low-light plants at the last two harvests (at 30 and 40 days). In S. cayennensis, RGR was also higher for high-light plants; however, this trend was not significant at the first and last harvest dates (10 and 40 days). These results are discussed in relation to their ecological and weed management implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenqian Kang ◽  
Yuqi Zhang ◽  
Ruifeng Cheng ◽  
Elias Kaiser ◽  
Qichang Yang ◽  
...  

Raising young plants is important for modern greenhouse production. Upon transfer from the raising to the production environment, young plants should maximize light use efficiency while minimizing deleterious effects associated with exposure to high light (HL) intensity. The light spectrum may be used to establish desired traits, but how plants acclimated to a given spectrum respond to HL intensity exposure is less well explored. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings were grown in a greenhouse in low-intensity sunlight (control; ∼2.7 mol photons m–2 day–1) and were treated with white, red, blue, or green supplemental light (4.3 mol photons m–2 day–1) for 10 days. Photosynthetic capacity was highest in leaves treated with blue light, followed by white, red, and green, and was positively correlated with leaf thickness, nitrogen, and chlorophyll concentration. Acclimation to different spectra did not affect the rate of photosynthetic induction, but leaves grown under blue light showed faster induction and relaxation of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under alternating HL and LL intensity. Blue-light-acclimated leaves showed reduced photoinhibition after HL intensity exposure, as indicated by a high maximum quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (Fv/Fm). Although plants grown under different supplemental light spectra for 10 days had similar shoot biomass, blue-light-grown plants (B-grown plants) showed a more compact morphology with smaller leaf areas and shorter stems. However, after subsequent, week-long exposure to full sunlight (10.7 mol photons m–2 day–1), B-grown plants showed similar leaf area and 15% higher shoot biomass, compared to plants that had been acclimated to other spectra. The faster growth rate in blue-light-acclimated plants compared to other plants was mainly due to a higher photosynthetic capacity and highly regulated NPQ performance under intermittent high solar light. Acclimation to blue supplemental light can improve light use efficiency and diminish photoinhibition under high solar light exposure, which can benefit plant growth.


1997 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-484
Author(s):  
Heather A. Hatt Graham ◽  
Dennis R. Decoteau

The sensitivity of shoots and roots to end-of-day (EOD) red (R) or far-red (FR) light on growth of `Sugar Baby' watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai] was investigated. Plants were grown in full-strength Hoagland solution and treated for 14 days to 15 minutes EOD light in trial 1 and in half-strength Hoagland solution and treated for 10 days to EOD light in trial 2. Exposing shoots to EOD FR resulted in elongated petioles of leaves 1 to 3 (as counted from the cotyledons), internodes 1 to 3, and total stem length in both trials. Exposure to EOD FR resulted in increased stem and petiole dry mass in trial 1, whereas EOD FR resulted in increased root and leaf dry mass in trial 2. EOD FR exposure of roots increased the length of petiole 4 in trial 1. In general, shoots were more responsive than roots to the growth-regulating effects of EOD FR.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elen Silma Oliveira Cruz Ximenes ◽  
Andréa Carvalho da Silva ◽  
Adilson Pacheco de Souza ◽  
Josiane Fernandes Keffer ◽  
Alison Martins dos Anjos ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Flame retardants are efficient in fighting wildfire; however, their environmental implications, especially regarding the vegetation, need to be clarified. This work aimed at assessing the effects of flame retardant on the initial growth of Schizolobium amazonicum. Treatments consisted in applying different flame retardant concentrations via substrate and leaf: Phos-Chek WD-881® (0, 3.00, 6.00, 8.00 and 10.00 mL L-1), Hold Fire® (0, 7.00, 9.00, 12.00 and 15.00 mL L-1) and water-retaining polymer Nutrigel® used as alternative retardant (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 g L-1). Growth analyses were carried out to assess the effects of these substances (10 repetitions per treatment). The aliquot of 10.00 mL L-1 of Phos-Chek WD881 applied on the leaves led to an increase of 70% in leaf area and 15% in seedling height. The same Phos-Chek concentration favored height increase (32%) and total dry mass accumulation (33%) throughout time. The concentration of 15 mL L-1 of Hold Fire® applied on leaves, compromised 45% the accumulation of dry biomass in the seedling. Initially, 1.00 g L-1 of Nutrigel® applied via substrate led to an increase of 70% in leaf area, 29% in plant height, and 89% in leaf dry mass. Therefore, Phos-Chek applied on leaves favored shoot growth in S. amazonicum. Hold Fire® applied on leaves impaired biomass accumulation in seedlings. Nutrigel® applied on substrate does not cause long-lasting damage to the initial growth of S. amazonicum. The aliquot of 0.50 g L-1 administered via polymer leave had positive effect on seedling shoot.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meral INCESU ◽  
Berken CIMEN ◽  
Turgut YESILOGLU ◽  
Bilge YILMAZ

Salinity continues to be a major factor in reduced crop productivity and profit in many arid and semiarid regions. Seedlings of Diospyros kaki Thunb. and D. virginiana L. are commonly used as rootstock in persimmon cultivation. In this study we have evaluated the effects of different salinity levels on photosynthetic capacity and plant development of D. kaki and D. virginiana. Salinity was provided by adding 50 mM, 75 mM and 100 mM NaCl to nutrient solution. In order to determine the effects of different salinity levels on plant growth, leaf number, plant height, shoot and root dry mass were recorded. Besides leaf Na, Cl, K and Ca concentrations were determined. Also leaf chlorophyll concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’) and leaf gas exchange parameters including leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gS), leaf transpiration rate (E), and CO2 substomatal concentration (Ci) were investigated. Significant decrease of leaf number, shoot length and plant dry mass by increasing salinity levels was observed in both rootstocks. D. virginiana was less affected in terms of plant growth under salinity stress. Leaf chlorophyll concentration reduction was higher in the leaves of D. kaki in comparison to D. virginiana in 100 mM NaCl treatment. By increasing salinity levels PN, gS and E markedly decreased in both rootstocks and D. kaki was more affected from salinity in terms of leaf gas exchange parameters. In addition there was no significant difference but slight decreases were recorded in leaf chlorophyll fluorescences of both rootstocks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Farias Barreto ◽  
Leticia Vanni Ferreira ◽  
Savana Irribarem Costa ◽  
Andressa Vighi Schiavon ◽  
Tais Barbosa Becker ◽  
...  

For strawberry cultivation in Brazil, producers are dependent on imported seedlings. An alternative strategy to reduce this dependence is the use of seedlings obtained from nursery plants grown in a protected environment. However, as these seedlings are produced in the summer and planted at the end of this season or the spring of the following year, it is necessary to control growth to reduce the energy costs of the plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations and periods of application of proexadione calcium (ProCa) on growth control of strawberry seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with seedlings of the cultivars ‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’, produced by rooting stolons and kept in polystyrene trays of 72 cells in a substrate of carbonized rice husk. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a 4 × 2 factorial scheme (4 concentrations of ProCa: 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L-1 × 2 periods of application: at 20 and 30 days after the planting period of rooting stolon). Plant survival, crown diameter, petiole length, total leaf area, specific leaf area, chlorophyll concentration, and dry mass of the crown and shoot were evaluated. The application of ProCa at 20 days after the planting period of the rooting stolon at the concentrations of 200 and 400 mg L-1 favored the reduction of petiole length in plants of ‘Aromas’ strawberry and total leaf aerial in ‘Camarosa’ strawberry. The application of ProCa from the concentration of 100 mg L-1 reduced the vegetative growth of ‘Aromas’ and ‘Camarosa’ strawberry seedlings cultivated in substrate.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Dobosy ◽  
Viktória Vetési ◽  
Sirat Sandil ◽  
Anett Endrédi ◽  
Krisztina Kröpfl ◽  
...  

Iodine uptake and translocation was studied in cabbage and tomato cultivated on different soil types (sand, sandy silt, silt) by applying irrigation water containing iodine at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/L. Iodine treatment at the concentrations applied did not significantly influence the photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration of cabbage and tomato leaves. The growth of cabbage leaves cultivated on sand and sandy silt soil with iodine treatment was slightly stimulated, while, on silt soil, it remained unchanged; for tomato plant parts, independent of the soil-type, the dry mass values remained constant. It can be concluded that iodine treatment had no negative effect on the physiological characteristic of cabbage and tomato plants. Applying 0.5 mg/L in the irrigation water, the highest biofortification with iodine was achieved in plants cultivated in sandy soil and the iodine concentration calculated in the dry matter amounted to 10 and 3.6 mg/kg in the leaves and fruits of cabbage and tomato, respectively. Considering the iodine and moisture content of cabbage leaves and tomato fruits, the consumption of 100 g of fresh vegetable would cover about 80% and 15% of the recommended iodine intake, respectively. The presence of iodine resulted in a reduction in Fe and P concentrations in tomato fruits independent of the soil-type; however, the concentration of Mg, Cu, Mn, Zn, and B remained practically unchanged. However, for cabbage, no similar trend for Fe and P was observed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 179 (1056) ◽  
pp. 177-188

The effects of the composition and pressure of the ambient gas mixture on the diffusive gas exchange of leaves, and the effects of carbon dioxide and oxygen on respiration and photosynthesis are described. When photosynthesis is limited by the rate at which carbon dioxide reaches the chloroplasts, the net rate of photosynthesis of many (but not all) plant species depends on the ambient oxygen partial pressure. The effect of oxygen may be principally to stimulate a respiratory process rather than to inhibit carboxylation. However, when photosynthesis is not limited by the carbon dioxide supply, this respiratory process seems to be suppressed. The gas exchange of plant communities responds to the aerial environment in the way expected from measurements on single leaves, but the growth response to a given difference in gas composition is smaller than expected because of adaptation, notably in the ratio of leaf dry mass to leaf area. It is concluded that the growth rate of higher plants in given illumination will be independent of the partial pressure of oxygen and of other gases likely to be used to dilute it, provided that the carbon dioxide partial pressure is so adjusted (probably to not more than 2 mbar (200 Pa)) that the rate of photosynthesis is not limited by the rate of diffusion to the chloroplasts.


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