Anatomical and biochemical studies on tuber growth and development in Gloriosa superba L.

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at the Botanical Garden, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2018-19. Cultivated type and Andhra wild ecotypes of glory lily in two different growth phases viz. 1) actively sprouting period and 2) dormant period were used for anatomical and biochemical studies. Observations were made on internal structure of tubers using SEM analyzer with EDAX instrument. Further biochemical analyses were made on starch, soluble protein, peroxidase and catalase activities of the tubers in both phases. The results indicated that, there was no difference found in internal structure of the tubers between the two ecotypes (Andhra wild and cultivated type) of glory lily but, the number and size of starch granules increased in dormant phase compared to sprouting phase. In dormant phase, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn elements were absent while those elements are present in sprouting phase. The starch content was recorded highest in Andhra wild tubers in dormant phase (43.65 mg/g) while the cultivated type tubers in sprouting phase recorded lowest content (17.25 mg/g). Highest catalase activity (7.85 μg of H2O2 g−1 min−1) and peroxidase activity (1.84 min−1 g−1) was registered in sprouting phase of cultivated type. The total soluble protein content was highest in Andhra wild tuber with dormant phase (7.81 mg/g), while cultivated type in sprouting phase recorded lowest soluble protein content (3.46 mg/g).