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Title: Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium effects on biomass yield and flavonoid content of American Skullcap (Scutellaria Lateriflora)

Author
item SHIWAKOTI, SANTOSH - Auburn University
item SHANNON, DENNIS - Auburn University
item WOOD, C.WESLEY - Auburn University
item LAWRENCE, KATHY - Auburn University
item KEMPPAINEN, BARBARA - Auburn University
item JOSHEE, NIRMAL - Fort Valley State University
item Rimando, Agnes

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2014
Publication Date: 6/6/2015
Citation: Shiwakoti, S., Shannon, D.A., Wood, C., Lawrence, K.S., Kemppainen, B., Joshee, N., Rimando, A.M. 2015. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium effects on biomass yield and flavonoid content of American Skullcap (Scutellaria Lateriflora). Journal of Plant Nutrition. 39(9):1240-1249. DOI:10.1080/01904167.2015.1050509

Interpretive Summary: American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family indigenous to North America. Extracts of American skullcap and flavonoids from the extracts have been reported to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties. Information on optimum amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer for high dry matter yield and flavonoid yield of American Skullcap is lacking. Therefore, greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of N, P and K fertilizer on biomass yield and flavonoid content of American skullcap. Fertilization of American skullcap with N, P and K increased shoot yield, flavonoid content, and N and P uptake in above-ground plant parts. Phosphorus application had the greatest effect on the flavonoids analyzed.

Technical Abstract: Information on optimum dosage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer for high dry matter yield and flavonoid yield of American Skullcap is lacking. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of N, P and K fertilizer on biomass yield and flavonoid content of American skullcap. Each experiment was carried out two times and consisted of six levels of each nutrient. Each treatment received a standard rate of micronutrient solution as well as the highest level of the other two major elements. The regressions gave maxima for dry matter, baicalein yield and chrysin yield at 446 kg N ha-1, 412 kg N ha-1 and 351 kg N ha-1 for N fertilizer respectively. Dry matter yield exhibited linear response to P application. The yield of scutellarein, baicalin, baicalein and chrysin increased with addition of P. The regression gave maximum for dry matter at 208 kg K ha-1 for K fertilizer. A linear response to K fertilization was observed for scutellarein concentration. Fertilization of American skullcap with N, P and K increased shoot yield, flavonoid content and N and P uptake in above-ground parts. Phosphorus application had the greatest effect on the flavonoids analyzed, whereas K had least, which may be attributed in part to the presence of K in the fritted clay medium.