Profitable turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) production requires adequate nutrients. We have investigated the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, nutrient uptake, yield and curcumin production of turmeric under field and glasshouse conditions. Although AMF inoculation slightly increased plant height, leaf number and shoot N content, no statistical differences were observed in vegetative growth parameters, biomass production, nutrient uptake and curcumin content compared to control plants under field conditions. It was difficult to determine the exact effect of inoculated AMF on turmeric growth because of indigenous AMF. On the other hand, turmeric showed better response to AMF inoculation under greenhouse conditions. AMF inoculation resulted in higher biomass production and nutrient uptake of turmeric. Moreover the concentration of curcumin, contained in the rhizome of turmeric, increased in AMF treatment. These results indicate that AMF inoculation has beneficial effects on turmeric growth and curcumin production. AMF inoculation to turmeric field would be effective when indigenous soil populations of AMF are low or native AMF are no longer effective.
: The effects of relative light intensity (RLI) on the growth, yield and curcumin content of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) were examined in Okinawa, Japan. The plants were shaded with white nets with different mesh sizes for maintaining respective RLI. Five RLI, 100 (without shading), 82, 79, 73 and 59% in 200482, 79, 73 and 59% in −200582, 79, 73 and 59% in and four RLI, 100, 68, 52 and 48% in 200582, 79, 73 and 59% in −2006 were evaluated. In the fi rst experiment, plant height increased markedly, but the number of leaves and tillers, and SPAD value increased slightly in the plants grown at 59−82% RLI compared with control (without shading). Turmeric shoot biomass and yield increased significantly at 59−82% RLI and they were highest at 73% RLI in the fi rst experiment. Curcumin content of turmeric increased markedly at 59−73% RLI as compared with the control in the fi rst experiment. Similar results in plant growth, shoot biomass, yield and curcumin content were obtained in the second experiment, but the effects of RLIs were smaller than in the fi rst experiment because of late planting. This study indicates that turmeric is a partial shadetolerant plant that could be cultivated at around 59−73% RLI for higher yield and curcumin content in Okinawa. However, the degree of RLI required for better turmeric cultivation may vary with the place, year and irradiance level.
Maize plants are well colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which contribute mineral nutrients absorption from soil. However little is known about their role in nitrogen (N) absorption especially from amino acids, which reach a considerable quantity in soils. This experiment was conducted to investigate N acquisition from amino acids through AMF symbiosis. AMF inoculation clearly increased the N content of maize supplied with amino acids (Glu, Ala and Pro). Further study of xylem sap revealed that the composition of amino acids was changed by AMF inoculation. These results indicate that AMF contribute N from amino acids, and may affect the nitrogen assimilation of host plants.
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