Growth and biomass allocation of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don plants with regard to organic manuring and harvest time

Abstract

Under the medicinal aspects of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don (perwinkle) (Apocynaceae) anti-carcinogen properties are ascribed and alkaloids are the substances associated to this effect. The studies about the environmental factors such as manuring and harvest time, that interfer on growing conditions of medicinal species are associated to morphophysiological alterations. Under this context, by the need for an economical exploration of that potential, for the large scale production of perwinkle, the present work purposed to verify the effects of manuring and the harvest times on the growth of that specie. The statistical design was a randomized block with four repetitions and cow manure as source of organic manuring (0; 320; 640 e 960 g/plant). The cuttings of plants were done at 2, 4 and 6 months of cultivation. The characteristics valued were leaf number, leaf area and dry weight. The results showed that organic manuring is more favorable to the development of the plants. The RAF, RPF and AFE alues showed lesser in the major level of organic manuring ( (960 g/plant of cow manure). The harvest at 2 months of cultivation showed to be the most favorable for major biomass gain at perwinkle.