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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of water stress and light quality on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters in eight medicinal plant species
    (G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2014-08) Chandra Kanta; Rao, P.B.
    Since ancient time, medicinal plants have been virtually used in all cultures as a source of medicine. In recent years, much progress has been made in understanding how stress affect different medicinal plant species. The present investigation is designed to evaluate the effect of water stress and light quality on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters in Lepidium sativum L., Spilanthes acmella L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Ammi majus L., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees., Cassia tora L., Wedelia calendulacea L., and Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni. of Tarai region of Uttarakhand (collected from Medicinal Plants Research and Development Center, MRDC, Pantnagar) under laboratory (seed germination and seedling growth) and green house experiments. The germination (%) of seeds of A. paniculata have higher water stress tolerance compared to other species. C.tora in radicle length and A. paniculata in plumule length are more resistant/tolerant to water stress than other species. Red light was stimulated seed germination in C. tora, A. paniculata, A. majus and S. acmella and direct light in M. chamomilla and L. sativum compared to control (direct light). Dark condition was inhibited germination (%) in all the species except L. sativum, in which it was in red light. The radicle length (cm) was maximum under control (direct light) in all the species except S. acmella, in which it was in red light and minimum in dark condition. However, plumule length was maximum under dark in all the species except M. chamomilla and S. acmella, in which it was in direct light and minimum in far-red light in all the species. Red light favoured dry weight accumulation in A. paniculata, while dark condition was inhibitory in all the species. In pot experiment, both watering frequency and shade levels significantly affected both height (cm) and dry weight (g); chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoid content (mg g-1fr. wt.); and proline (μ mol g-1 fr.wt.) , total protein (mg g -1 fr.wt.), antioxidant activity- DPPH (%), TPC (μg/mgGAE), ascorbic acid (mg g-1 fr. wt.) and antioxidant enzymes –SOD (Units-1min-1), POD (Umg-1fr.wt.), CAT (Umg-1fr.wt.) and MDA (μg g-1fr.wt.) in all species. The active compounds were quantified in all selected medicinal plant species grown under both watering frequency and shade levels by HPLC/GC-MS/spectrophotometric method. The active compounds - andrographolide in A. paniculata, stevioside in S. rebaudiana, wedelolactone in W. calendulacea, chrysophanol in C. tora, xanthotoxin in A. majus, lepidine in L. sativum, chamazulene and alpha- bisabolol compounds in M. Chamomilla, and spilanthol in S. acmella significantly affected by both watering frequency and shade levels.