ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Rhizome Yield and Secondary Metabolite Production Implications of Growth Stimulants in Curcuma longa cv. Alleppey Supreme

Curcuma longa cv. Alleppey Supreme is a high yielding turmeric variety. With the objective of further improving the yield, this plant was treated with various concentrations of seashell powder, fish compost, cow urine, coconut water, salicylic acid, and zinc sulphate. The study evaluated the effect of these substances on the morphological features, rhizome yield parameters, chlorophyll content, oleoresin and essential oil content and HPTLC fingerprints of powdered rhizome samples. There was a significant increase in vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and yield of plants by the foliar application of 10% cow urine and 15% coconut water. The plants treated with 15% coconut water produced more curcuminoids. The plants treated with 0.1% salicylic acid were found to be eustressed in terms of vegetative growth, rhizome yield and secondary metabolite production. Seashell powder (150g/kg) and fish compost (150g/kg) were found as eustresses since the treated plants showed a moderately positive response in terms of biomass and rhizome yield, and a strongly positive response in terms of secondary metabolite production. The study proves that the use of low-cost substances like sea shell powder, fish compost, cow urine and coconut water help improve the yield and quality of Alleppey Supreme variety of turmeric.