Influence of the sowing normsof Atropa belladona L. on the productivity in the condition of the Forest-steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

The author has elucidated the state of the medicinal crop belladonna growing in Ukraine and described this plant systematic botanical and biological properties. The sowing, norms for variety Krasavka in the conditions of the Kiev region have been stablished as a result of the researches. The conclusions have been made that belladonna is perspective in this area unusual forit to obtain high and stable yield which will ensur the country's pharmaceutical industry with quality raw material.

Materials and methods of research. Experimental studies were conducted at the Institute of Horticulture, Ukraine. The subject of the study was a population of Atropa belladonna obtained from an exchange fund of research institutions. Selection and evaluation of individual plants was carried out on biomorphological, economically valuable grounds and on the content of the amount of alkaloids in raw materials.  Our research has focused on the introduction and study of the basic elements of belladonna farming.

To achieve the aim, the task was to determin the norms and timing of sowing of belladonna in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine for its widespread introduction into production, as wella as the attempt to cultivate belladonna in the Kyiv region – an are a with a relatively continental.

As a result of experimental studies, the possibility of growing belladonna as a perennial crop in the new soil and climatic zone of Ukraine has been established. In the Kyivre gion, Belladonna has a complete cycle of seasonal development; in the first year of vegetation blooms profusely, forms a satisfactory yield of good quality raw materials (16-18 c/ha) and provides partial ripening of the fruits. In the second and subsequent years of vegetation, belladonna reaches maximum seed yield (2.5-2.9 c/ha) and air-dry grass with two-stage cultivation technology (28-30 c / ha) with an alkaloid content in the grass of 0,40-0 , 49%.

For soil and climatic conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, optimal sowing rates of belladonna in the amount of  6 million have been established.