Effect of Salicylic Acid at Pre-harvesting Stage on the Growth and Stemona Alkaloids Accumulation in the Roots of Stemona curtisii Hook. f.

Abstract

Application of salicylic acid at pre-harvesting stage on the growth and stemona alkaloids
accumulation in the roots of Stemona curtisii Hook. f. was investigated. The experiment was conducted in
completely randomized block design with 3 blocks, 4 treatments and 10 replications. The 0, 500, 1,000
and 1,500 mg/l of salicylic acid were sprayed at 30 days before harvesting. Roots were harvested and
growth parameters were recorded at 7 months – old plants. Dried root powders were extracted in 95%
methanol. The methanolic extract samples were analyzed for secondary compounds content. The results
found that, the growth and alkaloids accumulation in root of S. curtisii Hook.f. was significantly different
among treatments. The 500 mg/l SA concentration could promote the maximum of leave numbers at 15.60
leaves and highest contents of total stemona alkaloids, stemocurtisine and stemocurtisinol were 179.01
mg/gDW, 3.13 mg/gDW and 6.62 µg/gDW, respectively.