Effect of light intensity and growth substratum on plant development and production of secondary metabolites in Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult

Abstract

-Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. & Schult. (Boraginaceae), also referred to as Cordia verbenacea DC, has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes. This study was driven to verify the behavior of the species in similar conditions to its natural environment, such as high light intensity and sandbank soil, and in conditions of low light intensity and fertilized substratum (dystroferric red nitosoil plus earthworm humus). The growth of the plant, the income of leaf crude extracts and, in the alcoholic extract, the number of substances found in thin layer cromatography and the toxicity of the substratum was observed. The results indicated that the growth of the root biomass, stem and leaves in discharge or lower light intensity was similar, but smaller in sandbank soil than in fertilized soil. The relative income of extracts in ether of petroleum and alcohol was larger in high light intensity and fertilized substratum. The light intensity and the substratum type didn't affect the number of substances detected in the alcoholic extract or the toxicity of this extract. Stains corresponding to the rosmarinic acid were only evidenced in some samples of the alcoholic extract, not allowing the verification of the effect of the treatments about its production.

Light affects Varronia curassavica essential oil yield by increasing trichomes frequency

“…The investment in root production by V. curassavica under higher irradiance, also verified by Paulilo et al (2010) in the same conditions, favors greater water and nutrients absorption and increases the ability to withstand higher rates of transpiration and photosynthesis. On the other hand, V. curassavica plants grown under shaded conditions had a greater leaf area as an acclimation strategy to increase the surface for light capture, while the reduced leaf area of plants grown in environments with higher light intensity can be related to reduce water loss trough evapotranspiration.…”