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Effects of Nitrogen on Root Development and Contents of Bioactive Compounds in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge
Author(s) -
He C. E.,
Lu L. L.,
Jin Y.,
Wei J. H.,
Christie P.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2012.11.0659
Subject(s) - salvia miltiorrhiza , nitrogen , ammonium , biology , dry matter , chemistry , yield (engineering) , horticulture , botany , organic chemistry , materials science , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , traditional chinese medicine , metallurgy
Production protocols for the cultivation of high‐yielding and high‐quality Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge are needed because of the expanding markets for high‐value Danshen. A 2‐yr pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) levels and ratios of ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 + –N) to nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − –N) on root development and contents of bioactive components of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge in a soil culture system. The S. miltiorrhiza Bunge seedlings were provided with three N levels (0, 3, and 6 g N plant −1 ) at the same NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio (0:100) and five NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0) at the same N level (3 g N plant −1 ). The plant dry matter (DM), the apparent property of roots, and the contents of cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, total tanshinones, danshensu, and salvianolic B in roots were examined. Plant growth and all the contents of the bioactive components responded negatively to increasing N availability, suggesting that S. miltiorrhiza Bunge is not a nitrophile. The best apparent property of roots and the highest DM were consistently observed when the NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio was 75:25. However, the NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratios required for the highest content and yield of bioactive compounds varied among the different compounds. Therefore, in the commercial cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, the NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio should be chosen according to the target compound, considering the DM and apparent property of roots and the contents of the desired compounds. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms in terms of photosynthesis, the activities of key enzymes, and the biosynthetic pathway of the bioactive compounds.