The Air Temperature Effects on the Growth and Herbal Yield of Java tea (Orthosiphon Aristatus) Medicinal Plant.

Abstract

Orthosiphon aristatus (Java Tea) is a traditional and economically valuable medicinal plant with different pharmaceutical activities for preventing various diseases. Air temperature is one of the environmental elements that have an impact on plant growth and herbal production. The study aimed to assess how java tea plants respond to high air temperatures and to learn if soil with compost fertilizer may have a substantial impact on plant growth. The research was arranged using a completely randomized design, with air temperature as the main factor with three replicates for each treatment. Plastic Pots of java tea plants were maintained in the greenhouse (control) for three months and in the growth chamber day/night temperatures of 25/25°C, 30/25°C, 35/25°C, 40/25°C, 45/25°C and 50/25°C. Plants placed in a growth chamber showed significantly affected by temperature by comparing treatments in the greenhouse (control). Java tea plants kept at 30/25°C and 35/25°C had considerably higher plant height, leaf numbers, fresh and dry weight values than other treatments, whereas the 40°C treatment had the greatest growth decline, reduced leaf number, dry weight, and fresh weight. Moreover, all plants subjected to 45/25°C and 50°C/25°C in the growth chamber suffered more severely in all traits up to mortality. Therefore,30/25°C treatment would be more valuable for high marketability due to increased plant height, leaf number, and dry mass compared to other treatments.