This study evaluated the effects of supplemental phosphorus, copper and zinc alone and in combination with arbuscular mycorrhiza on Artemisia afra grown in a simulated soil medium. CHAPTER FOUR: EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA AND ADDITIONAL FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH AND.
Koehorst¹, CP Laubscher 1* , PA Ndakidemi 2
- ABSTRACT
- INTRODUCTION
- Traditional Indigenous Medicinal Plant Usage
- General concepts
- Influences of mycorrhiza on uptake of P, Zn, and Cu
- The effect of mycorrhizal relationships on the production and composition of the essential oils of various plants
- Artemisia afra
- Possible effects of mycorrhiza on the growth, development and yield of constituents of A. afra
- Conclusion and recommendations
- AIMS
- HYPOTHESIS
- OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH .1 MAIN OBJECTIVES
The process in which mycorrhizae assist in plant nutrient uptake is twofold. The mycelium extends into the soil up to 2 cm from the host roots (Feddermann et al., 2010).
Koehorst¹, CP Laubscher 1* , PA Ndakidemi 1
INTRODUCTION
- Experimental design 3.3.2 Glasshouse experiment
- Hydroponic experiment
- Factors controlled in the experiment
- Plant selection and planting process
- Treatment preparation
- Data collection
As the effectiveness of medicinal plants becomes more widely recognized and accepted, over-harvesting and extinction may result (Strangeland et al., 2008). According to McGeocha et al. 2008), "Over exploitation is a growing problem for many medicinal species in Africa".
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The manipulation of the pH significantly (P ≤ 0.001) affected the average fresh weight of the plants (Figure 3.2). These minerals are essential for plant development and this may contribute to the significantly lower fresh weight of plants grown at a pH of 8.5 compared to near neutral pH. The mean total dry weight of the control was not significantly different from the mean total dry weight of the plants grown at the pH values of 5.5 and 7.5.
pH 4.5 and 8.5 affected the total dry weight of the plants, which was significantly lower than the control. However, plants grown in media adjusted to pH 4.5 and pH 8.5 had significantly lower shoot dry weight than those from the control.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As nutrients become unavailable to plants, various metabolic processes such as chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis and respiration are limited (Stern, 2006). This could contribute to the chlorophyll levels in plants exposed to the pH 4.5 treatment being significantly lower than those in the pH 5.5 and 6.5 treatments, while the total dry weight is significantly lower than the control, but similar to pH 7.5 and 8.5. Although the yield of the plant is the main focus of most small growers, the most important factor for the medicinal industry is the yield of useful metabolites (Fennell et al., 2004).
Further studies are recommended regarding the effect of varying pH levels on the production of secondary metabolites and other chemical components with medicinal values. Selecting medicinal plants for cultivation in Nqabara on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast, South Africa.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Cultivation of medicinal plants also relies on the use of inorganic fertilizers, which can increase costs (Zak et al., 1998). Many areas of Africa are classified as marginal land - that is land that has little available nutrition for plant growth (Gupta et al., 2002). Cultivation in these areas is disadvantaged by the lack of available nutrition (McGeocha et al., 2008), and the cost of fertilizers can make cultivation in these areas prohibitively expensive (Kaya et al., 2009).
The application of AM inoculations can help restore favorable symbiotic soil relationships (Feldmann et al., 1989). The cultivation of medicinal plants for use in TAM is aimed at high production, judged by the dry weight of the product (Fennell et al., 2004), and therefore the aim of this study was to determine the effects of a mixture of AM on the growth and development of A.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
- Glasshouse experiment
- Plant selection and planting process
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis
Group A had no mycorrhizal inoculation and 1) no additional fertilization, 2) additional zinc application, 3) additional copper application 4) additional phosphorus 5) additional zinc and copper, 6) additional zinc and phosphorus, 7) additional copper and phosphorus application, 8) supplementary zinc, copper and phosphorus. Plant height was recorded in millimeters (mm) from ground level to the top of the tallest stem once a week. Root length was recorded in mm before planting and after harvest with a caliper, measured from soil level to the tip of the longest root.
Wet to dry root:shoot ratio was calculated by dividing root mass by shoot mass. Marketability was calculated by dividing the treatment cost per plant by the dry material yield to get the cost per gram, and then adding SPAD-502 multiplied by the price per gram to the cost per gram.
RESULTS
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on height of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on wet and dry weight of shoots of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on wet and dry weights of roots of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on root lengths of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on total wet and total dry weights of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on SPAD-502 levels of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on marketability of A. afra
The treatments containing mycorrhizae all had higher shoot wet and dry weights compared to those that did not receive mycorrhizal inoculation. The plants that received the mycorrhizal inoculations in combination with supplemental nutrient application all had significantly (P≤ 0.001) higher wet and dry weights of roots (Figure 4.3). Those plants that did not receive mycorrhizal inoculation had significantly lower wet and dry root weights regardless of nutrient applications.
Those plants treated with mycorrhizal inoculation and nutrient supplementation had significantly (P≤ 0.001) higher total wet and dry weights compared to those not inoculated (Figure 4.5). Treatments consisting of mycorrhizal inoculation, zinc, copper, and phosphorus had significantly (P≤ 0.001) higher total wet and dry weights compared to those receiving inoculation combined with no phosphorus supplementation.
DISCUSSION
The marketability of the plants was on average much higher in those plants that received the mycorrhizal inoculations, either alone or together with nutrient supplementation (Figure 4.7). This suggests that the mycorrhiza has a positive effect on the utilization of phosphorus available to the plant (Feddermann et al., 2010). The higher wet and dry weights of those plants receiving the inoculation compared to those that did not show that the mycorrhizal inoculation has a positive effect on the accumulation of mass by the plants.
The higher weights of those plants receiving both mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus supplementation compared to those that did not receive the inoculation show that the mycorrhiza has a positive impact on the plant's utilization of available phosphorus (Thompson, 1996). The highest marketability of those plants that received the inoculation together with phosphorus applications indicates that the most profitable method of cultivation is with the combination of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus supplementation.
CONCLUSION
Due to the fact that there was only a small difference between the treatments received by mycorrhizae and the different nutrient supplements in terms of wet and dry yield, this experiment suggests that a producer can increase plant yield by adding mycorrhizae, in instead of using nutrient supplements. The high levels of marketability demonstrated by those plants that received mycorrhizal inoculation along with supplemental phosphorus indicated the potential for traditional healers to grow plants of desirable plants using mycorrhizal inoculation. This is particularly relevant in an African environment, as the cost of nutrient supplementation can be prohibitive for the small-scale grower. Functional diversity in arbuscular mycorrhizae – the role of gene expression, phosphorus nutrition and symbiotic efficiency.
Effect of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus fasciculatum on the essential oil yield-related characters and nutrient uptake in the crops of different cultivars of menthol (Mentha arvensis) under field conditions. EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA AND SUPPLEMENTARY FIXATION ON PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROCESSES AND ANTHOCYANIN LEVELS OF ARTEMISIA AFRA GROWN IN A SIMULATED SOIL.
Koehorst¹, CP Laubscher 1* PA Ndakidemi 2
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
- Glasshouse experiment
- Plant selection and planting process
- Treatment preparation
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis
Artemisia afra is one of the most popular traditional African medicinal plants, and is used from Kenya to South Africa (Liu et al., 2008; Thring & Weitz, 2006). It was located in the research greenhouse of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the Western Cape of South Africa. This was to ensure that there was no contamination of the cuttings with any fungi.
When the plants were rooted, they were removed from their rooting medium and washed with reverse osmosis filtered water to remove all traces of the perlite. The readings were taken at noon on weeks 2, 6 and 12 of the experiment with average daylight levels of 10 kLux.
RESULTS
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on photosynthetic rate of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on substomotal CO 2 of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on stomotal conductance of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on transpiration rates of A. afra
- Effect of different combinations of mycorrhiza and nutrient supplementation on anthocyanin levels of A. afra
There was a significant correlation between mycorrhizal inoculated treatments and those that did not receive the mycorrhizal inoculations (Figure 5.2). After this, the plants that received the mycorrhizal inoculations were in combination with phosphorus and copper. The plants that received phosphorus without mycorrhizal inoculations had higher levels of stomatal conductance than those that did not receive the supplement (Table 5.3).
At week 2 there were already effects on the transpiration rates of those plants that received the mycorrhizal inoculations as they were higher than those that did not receive the inoculations. By week 6 there was a marked decrease in the anthocyanin levels of those plants that did not receive the mycorrhizal inoculations.
DISCUSSION
During the first week there was little variation between the treatments regarding anthocyanin levels (Figure 5.5). By week 12, there were significantly higher levels of anthocyanins in the plants that received the mycorrhizal inoculations compared to those that did not receive the treatments. At week 6 and 12 there was little variation between the plants that received the treatments of mycorrhiza (Table 5.5).
The higher anthocyanin levels in those plants with mycorrhizal inoculations indicate that these treatments resulted in plants that are significantly healthier when compared to those that did not receive the inoculation. Since visual health is a major factor in the selection of plant material by traditional healers (Canter et al., 2005), the use of mycorrhizal inoculation has the potential to influence traditional users, as those plants cultivated with mycorrhizal inoculation will be more searched. then those that did not receive the mycorrhizal inoculation.
CONCLUSION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Medicinal plant use in the Bredasdorp/Elim region of the Southern Overberg, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Growing high-quality plants requires different nutrient inputs, which can make growing costs prohibitive for traditional healers. This was also evident from the higher growth heights and weights of those plants grown in the hydroponic experiment compared to those grown in the soil experiments.
Copper deficiency can lead to the reduction of the activity of these enzymes, leading to reduced plant growth and photosynthetic processes. The presence of nutrients in the soil can only increase the growth of plants if access to the nutrients can be obtained.
CONCLUSION
The higher levels of marketability of plants inoculated with the mycorrhiza show that it is worthwhile to utilize mycorrhizal symbiosis to increase profitability of cultivated medicinal plants. This shows that the mycorrhizal relationship helped the plants to obtain the necessary nutrients for growth - the fact that the plants lacking nutrient supplementation but receiving mycorrhizal inoculation still performed well indicates the increased nutrient use efficiency of the inoculated plants. 2001. Correlation between chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils of some aromatic medicinal plants growing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In vitro biological activity and essential oil composition of four indigenous South African Helichrysum species. Effects of different nitrogen doses on yield, yield components and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L. Role of mycorrhizae in more sustainable oil palm cultivation.
