IMPACT OF PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION AND NUMBER OF CUTTINGS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF ARTICHOKE

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1 IMPACT OF PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION AND NUMBER OF CUTTINGS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF ARTICHOKE Azza A. Ezz El-Din*, Eman E. Aziz, S.F. Hendawy, E.A. Omer Cultivation and Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department, National Research Centre, Cairo (EGYPT) * Corresponding author: azzaamin2001@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Response of growth, yield and active constituents of artichoke was studied under different phosphorus fertilization doses and number of cuttings in the two successive seasons. Plants which were cut once at the end of growing season and fertilized with 200 kg fed -1 recorded the highest seed yield. Artichoke plants produced maximum fresh leaves yield when cut three times and fertilized with 150 kg fed -1. Chemical analysis of dried leaves indicated that flavonoids percentage ranged from %, while polyphenols percentage ranged from %. An adverse relation between flavonoids and polyphenols was observed. Key words: Cynara scolymus L., phosphorus, number of cuttings, growth, seed yield, flavonoids, polyphenols. 1. INTRODUCTION The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a perennial rosette grown throughout the world for its large, fleshy heads. It is considered one of the most important vegetable crops in the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin [1]. The flowering heads of artichoke contain inulin which helps those suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and other bowel disorders [2]. Artichoke extracts containing cynarin (1-5-dicaffeoyl-quinic acid) have effect on hepatobiliary diseases, hyperlipidaemia, dropsy, rheumatism and cholesterol metabolism. Dichloromethane and ethanol extracts of leaves have also antibacterial properties [3,4]. On the other hand, heaves, stems and industry residues are used for cattle feed [5]. Hammounda et al revealed that apigenin-7-0-glucoside, luteolin, cynaroside and scolymoside were isolated from leaves of globe artichokes cultivated in Egypt. They added that these flavonoids are used in traditional medicine for their diuretic, ureolytic and hypocholesterolaemic activities. Phosphorus is an important nutritional element in metabolic processes and as a main constituent of energy compounds, nucleic acids, phospholipids and co-enzymes [7]. Application of phosphorus was found to increase plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weight and essential oil content of black cumin as reported by Das et al [8]. Phosphorus also enhances seed germination, bud set, aids in seed formation and hastens maturity [9]. The highest values of fresh and dry leaves yield of artichoke plants were obtained from plants which were cut three times compared with those harvested once at the end of the season. On the contrary, seed yield was higher when leaf were cut once at the end of life cycle, than those exposed to twice or three times [10]. The effect of number of harvests on the leaf content of active constituents of artichoke suggests the possibility of cutting the plants three times in the same season as reported by Hammouda et al [6]. Flavonoids content gradually increased with increasing leaf harvests. On the other hand, as the leaves grow, the polyphenols regularly fall [11]. The content of total O-diphenols in Cynara scolymus was decreased with plant growth. Mono-caffeoylquinic acid decreased gradually until head differentiation. Scolymoside and Cynaroside followed the same trend, whereas cynarin exhibited contrary tendency [12]. The target of this study is to evaluate the effect of phosphorus fertilization and number of cuttings on growth characters, herb production, seed yield and flavonoids and polyphenols content of artichoke. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two field experiments were conducted during 2007 and 2008 seasons in Saft El-Labn Farm, Giza, Egypt to investigate the effect of phosphorus fertilization and cuttings on growth, yield and active constituents of Artichoke. The physical and chemical properties of the soil are shown in Table(1): 240

2 Table 1. Physical and chemical analysis of the experimental soil Physical properties Soil type loamy Course sand 4.9 % Fine sand 30.7% Silt 27.5% Clay 27.5% Organic matter 2.1% Chemical parameters ph Available N Available Available K 2O Fe Mn Zn Cu Na Mg mg/100g mg/100g 3.01 mg/100g 1.1 ppm 0.53 ppm 21 ppm 21 ppm 29 ppm 2.4 ppm The soil was ploughed and phosphorus treatments were applied two weeks before planting. Three levels ( and 200 ) (feddan = 4200 m 2 ) were applied as calcium super-phosphate during the preparation of soil for cultivation. The seeds were kindly provided from Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. Artichoke seeds were sown in October the 26 th and November the 2 nd The distance between hills was 50cm, in rows 75 cm apart. Three leaves cutting treatments were applied as follows: Leaves were collected by cutting at the end of growing season (One time). Leaves were collected by cutting for two times (65 days from planting and at the end of growing season). Leaves were collected by cutting for three times (65, 120 days from planting and at the end of growing season). The experimental design was one-split design with four replicates. The cutting treatments were arranged in the main plots and fertilization was in the sub-plots. Normal agricultural practices were done uniformly in all experimental units. The following parameters were recorded: 1. Plant height cm Number of leaves plant Fresh leaves. 4. Number of flowering heads plant Seed yield. The flavonoids content of dried leaves was determined (as Rutin) and the polyphenols content of dried leaves was determined (as Chlorogenic acid) according to the method described by Meda et al [13]. The data were statistically analyzed according to Snedecor and Cochran [14]. 3. RESULTS Phosphorus fertilization and/or number of cuttings significantly affected all studied growth parameters and yield of artichoke in the two seasons (Tables 2 and 3). Increasing number of cuttings significantly decreased plant height and seed yield in both seasons to reach the minimum mean of plant height with plants cut three times. On the other hand, number of leaves, number of flowering heads and yield of fresh leaves significantly increased with increasing number of cutting in both seasons. Character No. of Cutting Table 2. Effect of phosphorus fertilization and number of cuttings on growth and yield of Artichoke during the season of 2007 Plant height cm -1 No. of leaves Plant -1 Fresh leaves No. of flower heads plant -1 Seed Yield One time Two time Three time One time Two time Three time kg kg kg L.S.D at 5% Cutting P 2 O cut x

3 Character No. of Cutting Table 3. Effect of phosphorus fertilization and number of cuttings on growth and yield of Artichoke during the season of 2008 Kg fed -1 Plant height cm -1 No. of leaves plant -1 Fresh leaves No. of flower heads plant -1 Seed Yield One time Two time Three time One time Two time Three time kg kg kg L.S.D at 5% Cutting P O cut x Increasing phosphorus dose from 100 to 150 kg significantly increased fresh yield of leaves and seed yield in the first season and seed yield only in the second season. The other studied parameters did not respond statistically in both seasons. Increasing phosphorus to 200 kg significantly increased all studied parameters in both seasons comparing to 150 and 100 Kg treatments. The yield of fresh leaves showed the minimum values (3.942 ton fed -1 ) with application of 150 kg and one cut of leaves treatment in the first season and (3.690 ton fed -1 ) from application of 100 kg with one cut treatment in the second season. The maximum values (7.072 and ton fed -1 ) were resulted from cutting leaves three times and application of at 150 and 200 in the first and second season respectively. Seed yield showed the minimum value (546 and 632 ) from three cuttings of leaves with 100 and 200 kg application in the first and second season, respectively. The maximum seed yield (879and 902 ) resulted from one cut of leaves with application of 200kg in both season. The percentage of flavonoids and polyphenols of the artichokes leaves as affected by phosphorus and/or number of cuttings are shown in Table (4). The mean values showed that increasing phosphorus application from 100 to 150 and to 200 kg slightly increased flavonoids percentage. Increasing number of leaves cuttings showed gradual and slight increase in flavonoids percentage. Under the same treatment of leaves cuttings except three cuttings, increasing phosphorus dose increased flavonoids percentage. Under 100 and 200 kg treatments, increasing number of leaves cuttings increased flavonoids percentage. The opposite was true under three cuttings and 200 kg treatments. Flavonoids percentage ranged from 0.54% (100 and one cut treatment) to 0.63 % (200 kg and one cut treatment). The mean values of polyphenols showed that increasing phosphorus application from 100 to 150 and to 200 kg slightly decreased polyphenols percenttage. Increasing number of leaves cuttings decreased gradual polyphenols percentage. Polyphenols percentage ranged from 1.23% (200 and three cuttings treatment) to 1.45% (100 kg and one cut treatment). Under the same treatment of cutting, increasing phosphorus doses decreased polyphenols. The same trend was observed with increasing number of cuttings under the same phosphorus dose. Table 4. The mean values of the active constituents of C.scolymus leaves as affected by phosphorus fertilization and number of cutting No. of cuttings Flavonoids % One time Two times Three times Polyphenols % One time Two times Three times

4 4. DISCUSSION From the previous results in Table (2 & 3) phosphorus nutrition at the level of 200 enhanced all characters of artichoke plants in both seasons. Phosphorus considered an essential for strong roots, in addition to its importance as nutritional element in metabolic processes, which reflected positively on growth of artichoke plants. These results were in accordance with Elia and Santamaria [15] and Lerna et al [16]. On the contrary, Pomares et al [17] found that PK fertilization did not increase the yield of Cynara scyolums plants. Cutting leaves for three times led to the maximum values of fresh yield. This may be due to accumulated yield of fresh leaves and stimulated number of branches and leaves which turned into high fresh yield. Salata and Buczkowska [18] confirmed the same results on artichoke plants. They found that higher yield of herb was collected from twofold and threefold harvest in comparison to single one. while, number of leaf cuttings has an adverse effect on seed yield. Seed yield was higher when plants harvested once at the end of the season. This was obviously due to leaves maintained on the plant for longer time and had the chance to photosynthesize and form more assimilates directly towards seed formation. Similar findings were obtained by Sabry [10]. Reduction of seed yield as result of increasing cutting may be also attribute to that cutting delayed the flowering and fruit setting which translate into small size seeds and reduced seed weight. Generally, flavonoids content gradually elevated with increasing leaf harvests and phosphorus dose. While, polyphenols percentage decreased with rising both levels and number of leaf cuttings. These findings go along with several studies, where the highest content of O-diphenols in artichoke leaves were obtained if harvested at the maximum vegetation and beginning of head formation [11]. The obtained results were also in agreement with those revealed by Hammouda et al [6], they reported that as leaves grow, polyphenols fall and as flavonoids increase, polyphenols decrease. Subsequently, the level of phenolic compounds decrease with time. 5. CONCLUSION From the aforementioned, we recommend application of phosphorus with 200 kg and cut plants once at the end of growing season incase of production of seeds. While, in case the production of fresh leaves, it is recommended to cut the leaves three times and to fertilize plants with 150 kg P 20 5 fed -1. REFERENCES 1. Behr H.C., ZMP Marktbelanz, Gemüse Deutschland Europäsche Union Weltmarkt. ZMP Zentrale Markt-und Preisberichtstelle GmbH, Bonn. p Unisse I., The artichoke food for thought. Agrotica (2): Leung A.Y. and S. Foster, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2 nd., New York: John Wiley & Sons. 4. Mauri P., P. Pietta and M.G. Quaglia, Electrospray characterization of selected medicinal plant extracts. J. of Pharmceut. & Biomed. Analysis 23 (1): Pecaut P., Genetic Improvement of Vegetable Crops. Edited by Kalloo, G. and Bergh, O.B. Pergamon Press. 6. Hammouda F.M., M.M.S. El-Naser, S.I. Ismail and A.A. Shahat, Quantitative determination of the active constituents in Egyptian cultivated Cynara scolymus. Inter. J. of Pharmacognosy 31(4): Hafez M.A. and A.R. Mahmoud, Effect of natural and chemical phosphorus fertilization as individually and/or mixed on the productivity of eggplant. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 5(4) : Das A.K, M.K. Sadhu and M.G. Som, Effect of N an P levels on growth and yield of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Hort. J., 4: Espinosa M., B.L. Turner and P.M. Haygarth, Pre-concentration and separation of trace phosphorus compounds in soil leachate. J. Environ. Qual., 29: Sabry R.M., Production of artichoke (Romanian strain) under different organic fertilization and plant density levels. Ph. D Thesis, Fac. of Agric., Ain shams Univ., Egypt, pp Damiani L., S. Vanadia and C.D. Gatta, Effect of data and method of harvesting on the production of dried artichoke leaves and their content of O-diphenols. Conv. 5 Int. Polifenoli. (rela. Comun.) Lattanzio V. and I. Morone, Variations of the orthodiphenolic content in artichoke Cynara scolymus L. during the plant growing season. Bull. Liaison, Groupe Polyphenols, 8: Meda A., C.E. Lamien, M. Romito, J. Millogo and O.G. Nacoulma, Determination of the total phenolic, flavonoid and proline contents in Burkina Fasan honey, as well as their radical scavenging activity. Food Chem. 91:

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