COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ROOT GROWTH AND THE BIOACTIVE CHEMICAL COMPONENTS IN FIELD AND AEROPONICALLY GROWN ASHWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera L.)
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Date
2022-12-28
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore
Abstract
Ashwagandha, a medicinal crop produces withanolides as an important secondary metabolite has high medicinal value. Withanolides are predominantly found in roots and therefore, it is highly relevant to improve root biomass to derive more benefits from this crop. Aeroponic technology offers a good solution for maximizing root production. However, growing plants under aeroponic system requires suitable nutrients solution and spray scheduling as these two components are crop specific. Therefore, nutrients solution and spray scheduling were standardised for ashwagandha and accordingly, standard Hoagland’s solution with additional 50% N and K each with a spray scheduling of 1 minute on and 3 minutes off was found to be very effective. Following said protocol, ashwagandha plants were grown in aeroponic chambers. For comparison, plants were also grown on root study structure in the field. When the plants were of 120 days, desiccation stress was imposed in aeroponic chamber by reducing spray frequency to 1 minute on and 6 minutes off and withholding irrigation in field for 20 days to examine its effect on secondary metabolites production. At maturity, plants were harvested and biometric parameters and secondary metabolite content measured in both control and stress treatment of aeroponic and field grown plants. Results indicate that. field grown plants had thicker and sturdier roots with different root architecture compared to aeroponically grown plants where the roots were thinner and longer. Further, field grown plants had more secondary metabolites than aeroponically grown plants under control and stress condition although withanolides content remains more or less similar