ISHS Acta Horticulturae 523: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 13: New and Specialized Crops and Products, Botanic Gardens and Human-Horticulture Relationship
DEVELOPMENTAL AND CHEMICAL VARIABILITY OF FEMALE AND MALE FORMS OF NETTLE URTICA DIOICA L. |
| Authors: | Z. Weglarz, W. Roslon |
| Keywords: | Urtica dioica L., chemical differences, female and male forms, herbs and rhizomes mass increment |
| Abstract:
Nettle occurs as a perenial plant in Europe and in the temperate zones of Asia and America. It is a plant rich in different chemical compounds. In Europe this species has been widely used as a medicinal plant in treatment of many diseases and disorders. Because of growing demands on raw material (leaves and rhizomes) this plant has been introduced into cultivation. Nettle is a dioccious plant. Taking into consideration that a plantation of nettle can be established from the cuttings, there is a possibility of cultivation of both female and male forms. The object of our research were female and male forms of nettle in the first year of their cultivation. The male plants developed more leaves and offshoots and ultimately gave a distinctly higher mass of herb and leaves. Male and female plants also differed in increment of number and mass of rhizomes. The male plant developed rhizomes earlier and their mass volume was about two times bigger in comparison with female plants. Accumulation of flavonoids was comparable in both forms. The content of poliphenolic acids both in leaves and rhizomes was higher in male plants, however the chemical composition of female poliphenolic acids was more complex. | |
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