Growth and developmental rhythm of Scrophularia ningpoensisin southwest middle mountain area of China / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Plant samples were collected and investigated periodically. According to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of Scrophularia ningpoensis, the development of S. ningpoensis could be divided into four stages seeding stage, stem and leaf growth stage, expanding period of root tubers, and dry substance accumulation stage of root tuber. Leaf numbers of S. ningpoensis grew gradually from one at first to 370 at the final stage, main stem leaf were 50 pieces. Leaf size increasesed with the fastest growth at the stem and leaf growth stage, average daily increase amount was 225 cm2. By the middle of August, leaf size reached to 16,270 cm2. Leaf area indexrose sharply in the seeding stage, and remained above 8 among stem and leaf growth stage and expanding period of root tubers, and rapidly reduced to zero in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Leaf area ratio has a tendency of obvious dropping. The net assimilation rate had a small change ranges, two small peak were seeding stage and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. The value of specific leaf area was higher in seeding stage, and in the earlier stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Relative growth rate changed with large ranges, higher in seeding stage, rapid decrease in stem and leaf growth stage, rose in expanding period of root tubers, and declined again in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Crop growth rate was higher in the first and last stages, and smaller in interim stage. The growth parameters of S. ningpoensis such as relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, crop growth rate changed along with the growth. The rule of dry matter accumulation was as follows the dry matter increased slowly during the seeding stage and speeded up in the middle and late stages, and in dry substance accumulation of root tuber increased slower, the growth of dry matter all appeared an "S" curve, and accorded with logistic equation. Cultivation technologies of S. ningpoensis and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of S. ningpoensis and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stage.