Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological and phytochemical responses of three nutrient-stressed bulbous plants subjected to vermicompost leachate treatment

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of vermicompost leachate (VCL) on growth, photosynthetic pigments, phytochemical content and the bioactivities of three bulbous (Eucomis autumnalis, Tulbaghia ludwigiana and Tulbaghia violacea) plants with medicinal and horticultural potential under nutrient-stressed conditions was evaluated. After 15 weeks, the nutrient-stressed plants were harvested and growth parameters were recorded. Spectrophotometric methods were used to quantify the photosynthetic and phytochemical contents. Harvested plant materials were extracted with 50 % methanol and subjected to antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) and antifungal bioassays to elucidate the effect of the applied VCL under nutrient stress. While VCL did not significantly enhance growth of the three species, it significantly increased photosynthetic pigment content in 50 % Hoagland’s-treated Eucomis autumnalis and in phosphorus-deficient Tulbaghia ludwigiana. Among the quantified phytochemicals, the most promising finding was the significant increase in condensed tannin and iridoid contents in VCL-supplemented-nutrient-stressed Tulbaghia violacea. Better antioxidant (Eucomis autumnalis) and AChEI (Eucomis autumnalis, Tulbaghia violacea) activities were detected when VCL was applied under nutrient stress. The current findings indicate that the application of VCL holds potential in cultivation of plants under nutrient-stressed conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Affolter JM, Pengelly A (2007) Conserving medicinal plant biodiversity. In: Wynn SG, Fougère BJ (eds) Veterinary herbal medicine. Mosby, Saint Louis, pp 257–263

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Alam MN, Jahan MS, Ali MK, Islam MS, Khandaker SMAT (2007) Effect of vermicompost and NPKS fertilizers on growth, yield and yield components of red amaranth. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 1:706–716

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aremu AO, Van Staden J (2013) The genus Tulbaghia (Alliaceae)—a review of its ethnobotany, pharmacology, phytochemistry and conservation needs. J Ethnopharmacol 149:387–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aremu AO, Ndhlala AR, Fawole OA, Light ME, Finnie JF, Van Staden J (2010) In vitro pharmacological evaluation and phenolic content of ten South African medicinal plants used as anthelmintics. S Afr J Bot 76:558–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aremu AO, Bairu MW, Finnie JF, Van Staden J (2012) Stimulatory role of smoke–water and karrikinolide on the photosynthetic pigment and phenolic contents of micropropagated ‘Williams’ bananas. Plant Growth Regul 67:271–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arthur GD, Aremu AO, Kulkarni MG, Van Staden J (2012) Vermicompost leachate alleviates deficiency of phosphorus and potassium in tomato seedlings. HortScience 47:1304–1307

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant JP, Chapin FS III, Klein DR (1983) Carbon/nutrient balance of boreal plants in relation to vertebrate herbivory. Oikos 40:357–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canter PH, Thomas H, Ernst E (2005) Bringing medicinal plants into cultivation: opportunities and challenges for biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 23:180–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham AB (1997) An Africa-wide overview of medicinal plant harvesting, conservation and healthcare, non-wood forest products. Medicinal plants for forest conservation and healthcare. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding L, Wang KJ, Jiang GM, Biswas DK, Xu H, Li LF, Li YH (2005) Effects of nitrogen deficiency on photosynthetic traits of maize hybrids released in different years. Ann Bot 96:925–930

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon RA, Paiva NL (1995) Stress-induced phenylpropanoid metabolism. Plant Cell 7:1085–1097

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Du L, Zhao J, Abbas F, Liu W (2013) Higher nitrates, P and lower pH in soils under medicinal plants versus crop plants. Environ Chem Lett. doi:10.1007/s10311-10013-10419-10311

    Google Scholar 

  • Eloff JN (1998) A sensitive and quick microplate method to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of plant extracts for bacteria. Planta Med 64:711–713

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gremigni P, Hamblin J, Harris D, Cowling WA (2003) The interaction of phosphorus and potassium with seed alkaloid concentrations, yield and mineral content in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). Plant Soil 253:413–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton AC (2004) Medicinal plants, conservation and livelihoods. Biodiver Conserv 13:1477–1517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings A, Scott AH, Lewis G, Cunningham A (1996) Zulu medicinal plants. An inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Ievinsh G (2011) Vermicompost treatment differentially affects seed germination, seedling growth and physiological status of vegetable crop species. Plant Growth Regul 65:169–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juszczuk IM, Wiktorowska A, Malusá E, Rychter AM (2004) Changes in the concentration of phenolic compounds and exudation induced by phosphate deficiency in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Plant Soil 267:41–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kováčik J, Klejdus B, Hedbavny J, Štork F, Bačkor M (2009) Comparison of cadmium and copper effect on phenolic metabolism, mineral nutrients and stress-related parameters in Matricaria chamomilla plants. Plant Soil 320:231–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni MG, Sparg SG, Van Staden J (2005) Influence of temperature and watering frequencies on seed germination and seedling growth of Ornithogalum longibracteatum and Tulbaghia violacea. Sci Hortic 107:103–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni MG, Sparg SG, Van Staden J (2006) Dark conditioning, cold stratification and a smoke-derived compound enhance the germination of Eucomis autumnalis subsp. autumnalis seeds. S Afr J Bot 107:157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levieille G, Wilson G (2002) In vitro propagation and iridoid analysis of the medicinal species Harpagophytum procumbens and H. zeyheri. Plant Cell Rep 21:220–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler HK (1987) Chlorophylls and carotenoids: pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes. In: Douce R, Packer L (eds) Methods in enzymology, vol 148. Academic Press, New York, pp 350–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Louw CAM, Regnier TJC, Korsten L (2002) Medicinal bulbous plants of South Africa and their traditional relevance in the control of infectious diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 82:147–154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubbe A, Verpoorte R (2011) Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants for specialty industrial materials. Ind Crops Prod 34:785–801

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyo M, Ndhlala AR, Finnie JF, Van Staden J (2010) Phenolic composition, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Sclerocarya birrea and Harpephyllum caffrum (Anacardiaceae) extracts. Food Chem 123:69–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pant AP, Radovich TJK, Hue NV, Talcott ST, Krenek KA (2009) Vermicompost extracts influence growth, mineral nutrients, phytonutrients and antioxidant activity in pak choi (Brassica rapa cv. Bonsai, Chinensis group) grown under vermicompost and chemical fertiliser. J Sci Food Agr 89:2383–2392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peschel W, Prieto JM, Karkour C, Williamson EM (2013) Effect of provenance, plant part and processing on extract profiles from cultivated European Rhodiola rosea L. for medicinal use. Phytochemistry 86:92–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad A, Kumar S, Pandey A, Chand S (2012) Microbial and chemical sources of phosphorus supply modulate the yield and chemical composition of essential oil of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium species) in sodic soils. Biol Fertil Soils 48:117–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon JW, Balick MJ, Laird SA (1997) Medicinal plants: can utilization and conservation coexist? Adv Econ Bot 12:1–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor R, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418:671–677

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toor RK, Savage GP, Heeb A (2006) Influence of different types of fertilisers on the major antioxidant components of tomatoes. J Food Comp Anal 19:20–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Shi Q, Wang X, Wei M, Hu J, Liu J, Yang F (2010) Influence of cow manure vermicompost on the growth, metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis). Biol Fertil Soils 46:689–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch RM, Graham RD (1999) A new paradigm for world agriculture: meeting human needs: productive, sustainable, nutritious. Field Crops Res 60:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams VL, Balkwill K, Witkowski ETF (2007) Size-class prevalence of bulbous and perennial herbs sold in the Johannesburg medicinal plant markets between 1995 and 2001. S Afr J Bot 73:144–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams VL, Victor JE, Crouch NR (2013) Red listed medicinal plants of South Africa: status, trends, and assessment challenges. S Afr J Bot 86:23–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Li Y, Yuan F, Hu S, He P (2012) Effects of hematin and carbon monoxide on the salinity stress responses of Cassia obtusifolia L. seeds and seedlings. Plant Soil 359:85–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Mrs Alison Young (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Botanical Garden, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and her Staff for their technical assistance during the greenhouse experiments. We appreciate the help of Dr M.G. Kulkarni and Dr M. Moyo during the experiments. AOA is grateful for the financial support from the Claude Leon Foundation, Cape Town. NAM was supported by the National Research Foundation, South Africa. The University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is thanked for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Adeyemi O. Aremu, Nqobile A. Masondo & Johannes Van Staden

Authors
  1. Adeyemi O. Aremu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nqobile A. Masondo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Johannes Van Staden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

Additional information

Communicated by P. K. Nagar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aremu, A.O., Masondo, N.A. & Van Staden, J. Physiological and phytochemical responses of three nutrient-stressed bulbous plants subjected to vermicompost leachate treatment. Acta Physiol Plant 36, 721–731 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1450-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-013-1450-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation