Evaluating the effect of 40% and 0% shading levels on the secondary metabolites, antifungal and anti-insect activities of extracts of Allium porrum cultivated hydroponically under greenhouse conditions
Background: Allium species are generally reputed for their anti-pest properties; however, few studies have focused on optimising the quality and yield of anti-pest bioactive materials from these medicinal plants. Setting: Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out on the Bellville campu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jomped.org/index.php/jomped/article/view/144 |
| Summary: | Background: Allium species are generally reputed for their anti-pest properties; however, few studies have focused on optimising the quality and yield of anti-pest bioactive materials from these medicinal plants.
Setting: Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out on the Bellville campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town.
Aims: This research study aimed to evaluate the effect of light intensity on the volatile constituents, antifungal and anti-insect activities of extracts obtained from Allium porrum L. cultivated hydroponically under greenhouse conditions.
Methods: Seedlings of A. porrum were hydroponically grown under 40% shading and 0% shading conditions for 12 weeks. The phytochemical constituents of the aerial parts (leaf and bulb) of A. porrum were analysed. The antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and the anti-insect activity on the grapevine mealybug (Planococcus ficus) was evaluated by microdilution and repellency bioassays, respectively.
Results: Remarkably, the total polyphenol content was statistically higher (DF = 1, 6; F = 9.17; p 0.05) in plants exposed to 40% shade treatment. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the volatile compounds varied significantly (DF = 1; χ 2 = 3.435; p 0.05) between the two treatments. However, although a higher number of compounds (73) occurred in plants exposed to 40% shade than in those exposed to 0% shade (58), the shading effect on the number of compounds was not significant (DF = 1; χ 2 = 69.551; p 0.05). The acetone extracts of A. porrum that were cultivated under lower light irradiance showed a higher fungistatic activity against F. oxysporum in the antifungal bioassay.
Conclusion: Broadly, this study revealed that lowering light intensity from 313 μmol m-2 s-1 to 153 μmol m-2 s-1 favoured a higher phenolic content, volatile constituents and higher anti-F. oxysporum activities in leeks. |
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| ISSN: | 2519-559X 2616-4809 |