Effect of pre-harvest application of gibberellic acid on the contents of pigments in cut leaves of Asarum europaeum L.

Abstract

The experiment determined the effect of gibberellic acid applied prior to harvest on the contents of plant pigments in cut leaves of wild ginger (Asarum europaeum L.), cultivated in an unheated plastic tunnel and in the field. Foliar application of GA3 at a concentration of 100, 200, 400, 600 mg x dm-3 was repeated four times every two weeks. It has been proven that pre-harvest spraying of plants with gibberellic acid at a concentration of 100 mg x dm-3 has a positive effect on the content of photosynthetically active pigments in the leaves of A. europaeum cultivated in an unheated plastic tunnel. Application of GA3 at a concentration of 600 mg x dm-3 led to the accumulation of the greatest amount of anthocyanins in the leaves of Asarum europaeum cultivated both in the unheated plastic tunnel and in the field. The response of plants to GA3 application, expressed in the amount of flavonoids, depended on conditions related to the cultivation site. Pre-harvest treatment of A. europaeum plants with gibberellic acid at concentrations of 100-600 mg x dm-3 reduced the production of flavonoids in tunnel-grown wild ginger, but enhanced their accumulation in plants cultivated in the field. Pre-harvest application of gibberellic acid did not affect the fresh weight or dry mass content in plant material.

Keywords

• Asarum europaeum
• florist greens
• gibberellin
• chlorophyll
• anthocyanins
• flavonoids