OBJECTIVETo provide the basis for improving utilization of Artemisia annua germplasm resources and breeding variety, the interrelations between artemisinin content, artemisinin yield and agronomic traits of A. annua were studied.

METHODThe artemisinin content and each agronomic trait of 63 A. annua germplasm resources were measured by the visual observation and measurement methods. And the correlation analysis, regression analysis and path analysis were adopted.

RESULTThe result showed that there were significant differences in the artemisinin content and yield of 63 germplasm resources from the main production region of A. annua. Correlation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlation between leaf weight and artemisinin yield with stem and branch characters, but there were negative correlation between artemisinin content with leaf characters of A. annua plant. The artemisinin content of A. annua increased with the increasing of primary branch number, bottom secondary branch number, and bottom stem diameter, etc. On the other hand, it decreased with the increasing of top secondary branch number, secondary leaf axis length, and bottom branch diameter, etc. The artemisinin yield of A. annua increased with the increasing of artemisinin content, leaf weight, and bottom secondary branch number, etc., and decreased with the increasing of bottom branch diameter, middle secondary branch number, and stem weight, etc. Path analysis showed that the primary branch number and bottom secondary branch number had a direct positive effect on the artemisinin content of A. annua. But the top secondary branch number had a direct negative effect on the artemisinin content of A. annua. The leaf weight and artemisinin content had a direct positive effect on the artemisinin yield and the ratio of leaf/stem, branch weight and stem weight had a direct negative effect.

CONCLUSIONOn the breeding A. annua variety, it can take into account both high leaf yield and high artemisinin content. And it was strongly recommend that the plant with moderate plant height and crown, shortness pinnae and secondary leaf axis, less middle and top secondary branch, strong stem, higher primary branch number and bottom secondary branch number, and higher ratio leaf/stem could be selected for breeding new varieties with high leaf yield and high artemisinin content.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Artemisinins ; analysis ; Biomass ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diversity of germplasm resources of Artemisia annua and provide the basis for improving utilization of germplasm resources, the agronomic traits of germplasm resources of A. annua were studied in Yun-Gui plateau.

METHODThe agronomic traits of 67 A. annua germplasm resources were measured by the visual observation and measurement methods. And the germplasm resources were clustered using flexible-beta method to analysis their genetic background.

RESULTThe result showed that 67 germplasm resources had a relatively wide variation on the 22 agronomic traits. Among 22 agronomic traits, the dry weight of branch had the greatest coefficient of variation, which was 53. 63, and the next were the dry weight of leaf, total plant weight, the length of pinnules and the length of leaflet, which were 42.74, 41.61, 39.54 and 39.22 respectively. The smallest coefficient of variation was the leaf corlor. Based the result of cluster analysis, these 67 germplasm resources were classed into 5 groups, and each group had its respective character. The first group showed early-maturing resources, dwarf stalk, slender rod, long bipinnata, high leaf-stem ratio and moderate leaf weight The third group showed late-maturing resources, tall and thick stalk, much-branch, bushy accessory pinna, high leaf weight and yield. The fifth group showed very late-maturing resources, strong lateral shoot, high leaf yield.

CONCLUSIONThere were significant genetic difference and diversity in the germplasm resources of A. annua. The result of cluster analysis showed that the resources of group 1, group 3 and group 5 were suitable as breeding material of A. annua.

Artemisia annua ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Biodiversity ; Biomass ; China ; Cluster Analysis

Flavonoids are an important effective component of traditional Chinese medicine, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. The biosynthesis of flavonoid in plants is affected and regulated by various environmental factors. For a necessary environmental factor to plant growth and development, mineral nutrients are paid more and more attention on the regulation to the metabolism of flavonoids in medicinal plants. In this paper, an overview of flavonoids biosynthetic pathway, and the macroelements, microelements and rare earth elements on the metabolism of flavonoids in medicinal plants are presented. And the regulation mechanism of them are also analyzed and discussed.
Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Minerals ; analysis ; metabolism ; Nutrition Assessment ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn order to provide a scientific water management for the standardized cultivation, the effects of soil water content on the seedlings growth and active ingredients of S. miltiorrhiza were studied.

METHODA water stress experiment with pot culture was applied to study the effects of different soil water content on the seedlings growth, biomass and the accumulation of tanshinone, salvianolic acid B and mineral nutrition of S. miltiorrhiza.

RESULTSoil water content had serious influence on the growth, yield, outer appearance and inner quality of S. miltiorrhiza when the soil was under severe drought or with too much water. But the shoot and root biomass of S. miltiorrhiza was increased significantly under mild drought. As well as the content and cumulant of dihydrotanshinone I , cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I , tanshinone IIA and salvianolic acid B in root of mild drought were increased. It also enhanced the P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe contents of S. miltiorrhiza under mild drought.

CONCLUSIONThe overall results from the experiment suggest that the appropriate soil water content is 55% to 60% in seedling stage of S. miltiorrhiza. And it will be strongly recommended that the ridge culture and suitable soil moisture management must be carry out in production of S. miltiorrhiza in order to improve the yield and quality of medicinal materials.

Benzofurans ; analysis ; Biomass ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; analysis ; Minerals ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; microbiology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Water

OBJECTIVETo explore the solution of continuous cropping obstacle of Panax notoginseng.

METHODThe effects of balanced fertilization and soil amendment on the emergence rate, survival rate, growth and yield of P. notoginseng were studied with a pot culture experiment in 3-year-interval continuous cropping soil.

RESULTThe result showed that the content of total N, total P, available N, available P and other available components in continuous cropping soil were higher than those in fresh soil while available K and the rate of K/N were declined, and available Cu and some other micro elements were lack. The way of balanced fertilization "low N + fused calcium-magnesium-phosphate fertilizer + high K + lime + micro elements" would significantly enhance the rate of survival, biomass and yield. It also promoted the growth of P. notoginseng in continuous cropping. The bagasse could relieve the continuous cropping obstacle obviously, the survival rate was improved for 31.6% and the yield of medicinal materials was 19.5%. The fly ash had also some effect in relieving the continuous cropping obstacle.

CONCLUSIONThe overall results suggested that the adequate fertilization plan is the applying lime, reducing N, applying calcium-magnesium-phosphate fertilizer, improving K and supplying mircoelement as well as applying bagasse to resolve the problem of continuous cropping obstacle of P. notoginseng.

Biomass ; Crops, Agricultural ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Fertilization ; Nitrogen ; Panax notoginseng ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Phosphates ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibitory effect of extract from Actinidia argutaor on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata, and explore its mechanism.

METHODThe in vivo S180 and H22 model were used to observe the effect of A. argutaor on inhibitory rate of carcinomata, organ relative weight of spleen and thymus gland and the release of tumor necrosis factor. A549 cells were exposed to extract from A. argutaor with different concentrations for 24, 48, 72 hours. MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibiting effects of extract from A. argutaor on the proliferation of the cells. Flow cytometry was applied to detect cell cycle.

RESULTThe inhibitory effects of the extracts on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata were observed, the inhibitory rate for S180 and H22 line was 33.32% and 34.62% respectively. The extracts could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells during G0-G1 period and significantly decrease the cell ratio of S stage.

CONCLUSIONThe extracts from A. argutaor showed a good antineoplastic activity.

Actinidia ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR