Differences in growth characteristics and tricin contents of Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. at different harvesting times

Abstract

Alopecurus aequalis Sobol. has long been known as an effective treatment for systemic edema, chicken pox, abdominal pain and diarrhea. However, studies of functional materials using A.aequalis have been very limited. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the growth characteristics and tricin content of A.aequalis at different harvesting times. Growth characteristics, yield and tricin content of A.aequalis were measured at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after seeding (DAS). Plant height, root length, leaf number, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were significantly increased with increasing seeding stand period until 75 DAS, but decreased after 90 DAS. Yield of A.aequalis was also increased until 75 DAS, after which (90 DAS) it decreased. The highest yield was 9, 300 kg/ha at 75 DAS. In addition, tricin content increased significantly until 75 DAS (0.231 mg/g), then decreased at 90 DAS. These findings suggest that proper harvesting time for A.aequalis was at 75 DAS because both yield and tricin contents were high at this time.