European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
TR Barathkumar

Abstract
Thuthuvalai (Solanum trilobatum L.) is an important medicinal plant in Indian system of medicines. The fruits are having several alkaloids. These alkaloids have been identified and used in large scale by pharmaceutical industries for formulating new drugs against many diseases and illness of human beings. In order to exploit this medicinal herb for commercial cultivation, the present investigation was carried out to study the effect of different levels of NPK, on flowering fruit yield and alkaloid content of Thuthuvalai (Solanum trilobatum L.). The treatment consisted of three levels each of Nitrogen (N): 25, 50 and 75 kg ha^-1 Phosphorus (P): 20, 40 and 60 kg ha^-1 and Potassium (K): 20, 40 and 60 kg ha.^-1 The result revealed that the higher levels, N₃, P₃ and K₃ (75: 60: 60 Kg ha^-1) recorded maximum number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter and fresh and dry fruit yield. The P₃ and K₃ levels were on par with P₂ and k₂ levels for the most of the parameters and significantly higher than P₁ and K₁ levels. Among the interaction, the higher level N₃ and P₃ registered maximum growth and yield parameters at all the stages of observations. The chlorophyll content, total soluble protein and photosynthetic rate were maximum at N₃ and P₃ levels. The nitrate reductase activity, proline and alkaloid contents in the fruits were higher at N₃, P₃ and K₃ levels and N₃ P₃ interaction.