Thumbnail Image

M. Sc. Dissertations

Browse

20071
Reset filters
Subject: Botany × End date: 2007 × Start date: 2007 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of salinity on growth, yield and biochemical constituents of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla Linn.)
    (CCSHAU, 2007) Deepika; Varshey, U.K.
    German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla Linn.), an annual herb of varied medicinal value belonging to the family Asteraceae is in cultivation in Russia, Germany and France. It is now being experimentally cultivated in India in the states of Himanchal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The flowers of German chamomile accumulate blue essential oil, which is medicinally very important. It enriches the blood and relieves all kinds of pain. It also has aphrodisiac, diuretic, carminative, analgesic properties. In the present research investigation, growth, yield and biochemical constituents of German chamomile were studied under the influence of soil salinity viz. chloride dominated and sulphate dominated salinity. Plants were raised by sowing seeds in polythene bags each containing 6 Kg of screened and washed dune sand, in a screen house at varying EC levels viz. 0 (control), 4,8,12 and 16 dSm-1 of chloride dominated [Cl:SO4 2- (7:3); Na:Ca+Mg (1:1); Ca:Mg (1:3)] and sulphate dominated salinity [SO4 2-:Cl (7:3); Na:Ca+Mg (1:1); Ca+Mg (1:3)]. Results of the present experimental study revealed that the establishment, growth and yield of German chamomile are adversely affected by the build up of salinity in the growing medium. Chloride and sulphate dominated salinities influenced the various growth and yield parameters differently. The parameters such as plant height, number of leaves/plant, root volume, leaf dry weight/plant, stem & branches dry weight/plant, root dry weight/plant, flower heads fresh weight, flower heads dry weights, number of flower heads and oil yield all suffered a decline with the increasing EC levels of the growing medium. Sulphate dominated salinity was found more depressive than chloride dominated salinity with regard to above mentioned parameters except seedling establishment, root volume and stem & branches dry weight which remained indifferent to the two salinity types. Experimental findings evinced not only substantial delay in flower initiation but also an early maturity of German chamomile under salinity stress. The sulphate dominated salinity in general, superseeded the chloride dominated salinity in causing more delay in the flower initiation. The response of the two salinity types however, was indifferent in influencing the maturity date. Significant decline in number of flower heads/plant and the fresh weight as well as dry weight of flower heads/plant occurred with the progressive increase of salinity levels in the growing medium. The sulphate dominated salinity in this regard was found more depressive than chloride dominated salinity The biochemical constituents such as TSC (Total Soluble Carbohydrates) and proline were estimated in leaves of German chamomile grown under various salinity treatments. The results revealed the accumulation of both the above metabolites in the leaf cells with the successive increase of EC levels, at the vegetative as well as at the flowering stages. The accumulation of TSC as well as proline under osmotic stress is ascribed to osmotic adjustment in plants as these help to bring down the osmotic potential of the cell sap, enabling the uptake of water in cells. Under salt stress both these organic osmotica were found to increase from vegetative to flowering stage and their accumulation was relatively higher under sulphate dominated salinity as compared to chloride dominated salinity. The results demonstrated that inspite of better osmotic adjustment under sulphate dominated salinity treatments, the sulphate ions were more deleterious to the plants as compared to chloride ions. Chlorophyll ‘a’, Chlorophyll ‘b’ and total chlorophyll contents all declined in the leaves of plants with the increase of salinity at the vegetative and flowering stages. The Chl ‘b’ however, remained more or less stable with the progressive increase of salinity level. Chloride was found more reducing than sulphate salinity as far as Chl ‘a’ and total chlorophyll is concerned. The two salinity types however, were indifferent to Chl ‘b’. The Chl ‘a’ has been observed to breakdown more rapidly than Chl ‘b’ in presence of salts indicating the unstability of Chl ‘a’ and better stability of Chl ‘b’ under such growing conditions. Effective reduction in oil content of air-dried flowers was found at EC levels beyond 8 dSm-1. The reduction in oil content (per cent) was higher under sulphate dominated salinity as compared to chloride dominated salinity. The oil yield (g/pot) from fresh flowers was found to be inversely related to salinity level in the growing medium. From experimental results, German chamomile appears to be highly salt tolerant medicinal herb as its plants survived and reproduced at the highest salinity level (16 dSm-1) used irrespective of the salinity types. This herb can, therefore, be grown in crop fields or wastelands affected by salts.