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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120368
Title: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO MEDICINAL PLANT PRODUCTION AND PHYSIOLOGY

Author
item RUSHING, JAMES - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item DUFAULT, ROBERT - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item SHEPARD, B. - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item HASSELL, RICHARD - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item MCCUTCHEON, GLORIA - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item KEINATH, ANTHONY - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Simmons, Alvin
item GANGEMI, J. - NAT. NEUTRACEUTICAL CENT.

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 1998, an interdisciplinary research project was initiated with industry funding to identify the production and marketing potential of medicinal plants in the coastal region of the southern U.S. Our research team consists of two horticulturists, three entomologists, a plant pathologist, a microbiologist, and a postharvest physiologist. In initial trials, five species of plants were investigated: Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), E. pallida (pallida), Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew), Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), and Valeriana officianalis (valerian). St. John's wort was highly susceptible to southern blight, valerian succumbed to heat stress, and pallida lacked the vigor needed for commercial production. Purple coneflower was moderately successful and feverfew performed well. In 2001, the commercial potential for feverfew production will be rigorously evaluated in one-acre plots on 11 tobacco farms in SC.