studies on the effect of pinching, spacing and growth regulators on growth, yield and alkaloid

320 Pages·2007·4.58 MB·English

STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PINCHING, SPACING AND GROWTH
REGULATORS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ALKALOID CONTENT OF
ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL)

Thesis submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HORTICULTURE to the
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore-641003

By

S.SARASWATHY, M.Sc., (Hort.)
ID.No. 00-815-009

DEPARTMENT OF FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING
HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
COIMBATORE-641 003

2003
STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PINCHING, SPACING AND GROWTH
REGULATORS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ALKALOID CONTENT OF
ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA DUNAL)

By

S.SARASWATHY, M.Sc., (Hort.)
ID.No. 00-815-009

DEPARTMENT OF FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPING
HORTICULTURAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
COIMBATORE-641 003

2003
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF
PINCHING, SPACING AND GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH, YIELD
AND ALKALOID CONTENT OF ASHWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera Dunal)”
submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF
PHILOSOPHY IN HORTICULTURE to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore-641003 is a bonafide research work carried out by S.SARASWATHY under
my supervision and guidance and that no part of this thesis has been submitted for the
award of any other degree, diploma, fellowship or other similar titles or prizes and that
the work has not been published in part or full in any scientific or popular journal or
magazine.
Date: 03.11.2003
Place: Coimbatore-3 (Dr.R.S.Azhakia Manavalan)
Chairman

Approved by
Chairman:
(Dr.R.S.Azhakia Manavalan)

Members:

(Dr.E.Vadivel)

(Dr.A.Manickam)

(Dr.K.Manian)
External examiner:
Date:
ACKNOLEDGEMENT
With regardful memories…….
Would it be all envisaging to offer salutations at the fact that of the Lord
Almighty, who kindly imbued the energy and enthusiasm through ramifying paths of
thick and thin of my efforts.
Gratitude beyond words………albeit the immaculate, ingenious and ineffable
manner in which my chairman Dr.R.S.Azhakia Manavalan, Professor of Horticulture,
Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Yethapur, P.G.Palayam Post, Salem District. 636
119 guided every step of mine in these search times, is acknowledged to the deep. My
efforts assumed newer shape and strength as and when my chairman came up with
creative analysis and constructive rebuilding of the concepts and crucialities especially in
preparation of the manuscript to which I remain immensely indebted and above all his
immediate reaction and care evinced for mushrooming problems.
I convey my heartfelt gratitude to Dr.E.Vadivel, Dean (Hort.), Horticultural
College and Research Institute, Coimbatore as member of the Advisory Committee
during this investigation and suggesting this topic with new and creative concepts, which
has come out colouful with shades of success. I owe my sincere and heartfelt thanks to
the members of my Advisory Committee Dr.A.Manickam, Professor of Biochemistry,
CPMB and Dr.K.Manian, Professor of Crop Physiology for their valuable suggestions,
needful assistance and critical review of this work.
I express my profound thanks are due to Dr.N.Chezhiyan, Professor and Head,
Department of Spices and Plantation Crops and Dr.M.Vijayakumar, Professor and
Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping for their encouragement, guidance
and support rendered during the tenure of the study.
I enroll my deep sense of gratitude to Dr.T.Thangaraj, Director, Regional Plant
Resource Centre, Government of Orissa, Bhuvaneswar and Dr.S.Anbu, Dean (Hort.),
Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam for their instinctive
encouragement, help and guidance throughout my study.
On a personal note, I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to
Dr.T.N.Balamohan, Professor of Horticulture, Dr.V.Ponnusamy, P.G.Coordinator,
Dr.S.Subramanian, Dr.R.M.Vijayakumar and Dr.M.Jawaharlal, Associate Professors
of Horticulture, Dr.P.Jeyakumar, Assistant Professor of Crop Physiology, Dr.D.Durga
Devi, Professor of Crop Physiology and Dr.E.Somasundaram, Assistant Professor of
Agronomy for their timely help and unsolicited assistance throughout the
experimentation phase.
Words fail to express my deep indebtedness to Mr.R.Venkatachalm, Assistant
Professor (Hort.) for his helping hands throughout the experimentation phase and a
special mention for his assistance and care in statistical analysis. I greatly acknowledge
the facilities provided by the Department of Vegetables under the Centre of Excellence,
AHRDP for computer works. I also acknowledge the help rendered by
Mr.B.Duraisamy, Assistant Professor, J.S.S.College of Pharmacy, Ooty in doing
HPTLC work.
Many other hands and minds have helped me at various stages of my study. It
would not be fair if I do not have a special mention for Tmt.K.Muthulakshmi,
Selvi.G.Jansi Rani and Th.M.Ananthan, Assistant Professors (Hort.), Mr.K.Pradheep,
Mr.R.Arun Kumar, Mr.C.Subesh, Mrs.I.Geethalakshmi, Ms.V.P.Santhi,
Mr.V.Sankar, Mr.K.Padmanaban, Mr.M.Srinivasan, Ms.Srimathi and other
classmates.
It is my honour to portray Mr.Karuppasamy and Mr.Ruban Selvakumar,
Agricultural Assistants and farm labourers of Botanic Garden for their support and help
rendered during the course of research work.
I express my deep sense of feeling to my hubby Er.A.Solairaj for his love,
affection, patience, boost, support and assumption of domestic responsibilities. More as a
personal note, I thank my loving kids S.Sureka Priyadharsini and S.Saran Sathish for
their kind cooperation during the course of study. Everlasting, exemplary enthusiasm and
continuous encouragement shown by my beloved mother is acknowledged with great
pride. I am grateful to my brother Mr. S.Jawahar, sister-in-law Mrs.Tamil Selvi
Jawahar, sister Mrs.S.Jayarani, niece A.Seethalakshmi and nephew S.Shyam Sundar
for their love, support and affection. I extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my father-
in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law Mr.A.Balasubramaniam, co-sister
Mrs.Kalaiselvi Balasubramaniam, Mr.B.Karthick and Mr.B.Kavaraj for their
affection and constant encouragement during the course of study.
I gratefully acknowledge and thank the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for
permitting me to undergo my Ph.D. studies under study leave programme.
I thank Ms.Kavi Bharathi and Mrs.J.Beena for the timely and neat execution of
this dissertation.

(S. SARASWATHY)
ABSTRACT

STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF PINCHING, SPACING AND GROWTH
REGULATORS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ALKALOID CONTENT OF
ASHWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera Dunal)

By
S. SARASWATHY

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture
Chairman : Dr. R. S. Azhakia Manavalan,
Professor of Horticulture,
Tapioca and Castor Research Station,
Yethapur, P.G.Palayam Post,
Salem District. 636 119.

2003

Field experiments were conducted at the Horticultural College and Research
Institute, Coimbatore during 2001-2003 to study the effect of pinching, spacing and
growth regulators on growth, yield and alkaloid content of ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera Dunal). The experiments were laid out in a split- split plot design with three
replications. The treatments consisted of two levels of pinching (P – non-pinching and
0
P – pinching on 30th day), three levels of spacing (S – 60x60 cm, S – 60x45cm and S
1 1 2 3
– 60x30cm) and five growth regulators (G – panchagavya, G – GA G – cycocel, G –
1 2 3, 3 4
paclobutrazol, G – potassium nitrate and G – without spray).
5 0
The results indicated that more plant height and internodal length were recorded
in non-pinching + closer spacing + GA conditions. Lesser values for these parameters
3
were observed in pinching + wider spacing + paclobutrazol. The growth attributes such
as the number of primary branches, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of leaves, shoot girth,
number of fruits per plant and fruit and seed yield per plant were at the highest under
pinching + wider spacing + panchagavya combination. The least crop duration was also
recorded in the same treatment. The least number of primary branches, laterals and
leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of leaves, shoot fresh and dry weight, number of
fruits per plant and seed yield per plant were registered under non-pinching + closer
spacing + paclobutrazol treatment. The least leaf area index and fruit and seed yield per
hectare was produced by non-pinching + wider spacing + paclobutrazol combination.
More values for yield attributes viz., root length, root girth, root primaries, root
fresh and dry weight and root barks weight per plant were observed under pinching +
wider spacing + panchagavya conditions. The root shoot ratio and harvest index were
high under non-pinching + wider spacing + paclobutrazol condition. The lowest values
recorded under non-pinching + closer spacing + without spray were shoot girth, root
length, root girth, root primaries, root fresh and dry weight and root barks weight per
plant. But the lowest root yield per hectare was registered under non-pinching + wider
spacing + without spray.
The physiological parameters viz., chlorophyll, chlorophyll stability index,
chlorophyll fluorescence, relative water content, soluble protein, proline, epicuticular
wax, nitrate reductase activity, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf
nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were also high under pinching + wider
spacing + panchagavya combination. The IAA oxidase activity was at the highest in
pinching + wider spacing + paclobutrazol. It was less under non-pinching + closer
spacing + GA treatment combination. Total dry matter production, crop growth rate, net
3
assimilation rate and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake were higher in
pinching + closer spacing + panchagavya.
Biochemical studies revealed that the lowest crude fibre and the highest alkaloid
content were recorded under pinching + wider spacing + panchagavya combination.
Withaferin-A and withanolide-A contents were estimated by HPTLC (High Performance
Thin Layer Chromatography) method and the results indicated that the highest yield of
steroidal lactones (withaferin-A and withanolide-A contents) was registered in pinching +
closer spacing + panchagavya combination. The seeds collected from pinching + wider
spacing + panchagavya treatment registered an early germination and more germination
percentage; shoot length, root length, dry matter production and vigour index.
A correlation analysis revealed that the characters-primary branches, laterals,
leaves, leaf area, leaf weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, root length, root girth, root
primaries, root fresh and dry weight and root barks weight were positively correlated with
root yield per plant. The physiological parameters such as chlorophyll, chlorophyll
stability index, chlorophyll fluorescence, relative water content, photosynthetic rate,
stomatal conductance, soluble protein, nitrate reductase activity and leaf nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium content showed a positive and significant association with
root yield per plant. The root yield per hectare had positive correlation with total dry
matter production, leaf area index, root weight per plant and nitrogen, phosphorous and
potassium uptake.
The economic analysis forwarded the treatment combination pinching on 30th day
+ closer spacing (60x30 cm) + panchagavya 3.0 per cent, which registered more gross
income, net returns and benefit cost ratio. This treatment can be recommended for
commercial exploitation of ashwagandha.
CONTENTS

CHAPTER
TITLE PAGE NO.
NO.
I INTRODUCTION
II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
III MATERIALS AND METHODS
IV RESULTS
V DISCUSSION
VI SUMMARY
REFERENCES
ANNEXURES
PLATES