Growth, parthenolide and proline contents in <em>Tanacetum parthenium</em> (L. ) Schultz Bip

Abstract

In substratum of different humidity contents. Aiming at determining the effect of soil's water levels on the parthenolide contents of plants aerial parts, this experiment used feverfew [Tanacetum parthenium (L. ) Schultz Bip. ], grown in 5-L vases, with substratum kept at 100%, 90%, 70% and 50% field capacity. In the substratum highest water availability levels, plants showed larger height, more leaves, higher total leaf area and higher parthenolide content. In the lowest water availability level, the following decreases were verified: 16% in plants height, 13% in number of leaves, 14% in leaf area and 28% in parthenolide content, and an increase in the proline content. This suggests that higher water levels in soil are more appropriate for producing plants with larger parthenolide content.