(134) Effect of Seed Source and Organic Management on Agronomic Performance of Three Species of Echinacea

Abstract

Consumption of Echinacea, one of the most popular botanical supplements, continues to expand in the United States. In addition, organic herbal products have captured a large share of the botanical supplement market. We evaluated commercial organic production of the three most-important medicinal species of Echinacea, E. angustifolia DC, E. purpurea (L) Moench., and E. pallida (Nutt.) from two seed sources. Plants were grown in the field for 3 consecutive years. We found that, during the first year, screen cages were associated with enhanced post-transplanting establishment. Growth of E. angustifolia was not affected by either production system or seed source after 3 years, and yields were equivalent for years 2 and 3 for this species. Growth of E. purpurea was affected by production system, but not by seed source, during the first 2 years. In year 3, neither seed source nor production system affected growth of E. purpurea. Yield of E. pallida was greater in the open field the first year; no difference between production systems was found during the second; and, by the third year, plants growing in screened cages produced more than plants growing in the open field. Production system affected yield of E. purpurea only during year 2, and yield was greater in the open field than in screened cages. Echinacea plants in the open field, however, were more affected by aster yellows disease, with an infection rate of 17% for E. purpurea in the open field compared to 3% under screen cages. Based on these results, in areas of aster yellows incidence, excellent Echinacea root yields can be obtained under screen cages using organic seeds.