<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The aim of the study was to replace mineral fertilizers with organic and biological fertilizers to improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the concentrations of some important secondary metabolites in periwinkle (<italic>Catharanthus roseus</italic> L.). Periwinkle plants were grown under different rates of N supply (0, 20 and 40 mg kg−1 soil) and biological treatments (<italic>Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Azospirillum</italic> plus <italic>Azotobacter, Azospirillum</italic> plus fungal compost, <italic>Azotobacter</italic> plus fungal compost, and fungal compost). The concentrations of pigments and nutrients were measured by spectrophotometry and flame photometry. Secondary metabolites were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were recorded for plant growth and development parameters, nutrient uptake and some secondary metabolites of periwinkle plants. The results showed that the N-fertilizer and biological treatments significantly improved most growth attributes and nutrient uptake and increased the concentrations of secondary metabolites as compared to the control. Maximum concentrations of root ajmalicine (0.54 mg g−1 DW), leaf vinblastine (0.96 mg g−1 DW) and root catharanthine (2.38 mg g−1 DW) were obtained from the treatment with <italic>Azospirillum</italic> under N-fertilizer at 20 and 40 mg kg−1 soil. <italic>Azotobacter</italic> along with fungal compost under N-fertilizer at 40 mg kg−1 soil induced the maximum concentration of leaf vindoline (1.94 mg g−1 DW). The highest concentration of root alkaloids (1.11 mg g−1 DW) was obtained from the treatment with compost under 40 mg N kg−1 soil. <italic>Azospirillum</italic>, <italic>Azotobacter</italic> and fungal compost combined with the N-fertilizer improved many morphological and nutrient characteristics. In conclusion, the growth and metabolism of <italic>C. roseus</italic> were significantly positively affected by the organic and biological fertilizers.</abstract>

The aim of the study was to replace mineral fertilizers with organic and biological fertilizers to improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the concentrations of some important secondary metabolites in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.). Periwinkle plants were grown under different rates of N supply (0, 20 and 40 mg kg−1 soil) and biological treatments (Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Azospirillum plus Azotobacter, Azospirillum plus fungal compost, Azotobacter plus fungal compost, and fungal compost). The concentrations of pigments and nutrients were measured by spectrophotometry and flame photometry. Secondary metabolites were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were recorded for plant growth and development parameters, nutrient uptake and some secondary metabolites of periwinkle plants. The results showed that the N-fertilizer and biological treatments significantly improved most growth attributes and nutrient uptake and increased the concentrations of secondary metabolites as compared to the control. Maximum concentrations of root ajmalicine (0.54 mg g−1 DW), leaf vinblastine (0.96 mg g−1 DW) and root catharanthine (2.38 mg g−1 DW) were obtained from the treatment with Azospirillum under N-fertilizer at 20 and 40 mg kg−1 soil. Azotobacter along with fungal compost under N-fertilizer at 40 mg kg−1 soil induced the maximum concentration of leaf vindoline (1.94 mg g−1 DW). The highest concentration of root alkaloids (1.11 mg g−1 DW) was obtained from the treatment with compost under 40 mg N kg−1 soil. Azospirillum, Azotobacter and fungal compost combined with the N-fertilizer improved many morphological and nutrient characteristics. In conclusion, the growth and metabolism of C. roseus were significantly positively affected by the organic and biological fertilizers.

Organic N-fertilizer, rhizobacterial inoculation and fungal compost improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the levels of vindoline, ajmalicine, vinblastine, catharanthine and total alkaloids in <italic>Catharanthus roseus</italic> L.

Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Organic N-fertilizer, rhizobacterial inoculation and fungal compost improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the levels of vindoline, ajmalicine, vinblastine, catharanthine and total alkaloids in  L.

The aim of the study was to replace mineral fertilizers with organic and biological fertilizers to improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the concentrations...

Organic N-fertilizer, rhizobacterial inoculation and fungal compost improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the levels of vindoline, ajmalicine, vinblastine, catharanthine and total alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus L.

Published Online: Dec 14, 2018

Page range: 203 - 213

Received: Aug 04, 2017

Accepted: Mar 08, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2018-0018

Keywords
nitrogen fertilizer, periwinkle, plant secondary metabolites, root inoculation,

© 2018 Davood Hashemabadi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Organic N-fertilizer, rhizobacterial inoculation and fungal compost improve nutrient uptake, plant growth and the levels of vindoline, ajmalicine, vinblastine, catharanthine and total alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus L.

Published Online: Dec 14, 2018

Page range: 203 - 213

Received: Aug 04, 2017

Accepted: Mar 08, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2018-0018

Keywordsnitrogen fertilizer, periwinkle, plant secondary metabolites, root inoculation,

© 2018 Davood Hashemabadi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
nitrogen fertilizer, periwinkle, plant secondary metabolites, root inoculation,