[Study on growth and dry substance accumulation of Curcuma longa].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the growth characteristics of Curcuma longa, and provide basis for standardized cultivation.


METHODS
Plant samples were collected and investigated periodically.


RESULTS
According to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of C. longa, the development of C. longa could be divided into five stages: emergence of seedlings, seedling, leaf, root tuber expansion, and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. In terms of number, leaf of C. longa increases gradually from one at first to eight at the final stage. Leaf size increases at a very low speed at the stage of seedling. However, leaves expands their sizes at a much higher speed at the stage of leaf. The dry substance in different parts accumulates increasingly with the development of C. longa dry substance mainly accumulates in leaves at the stage of leaf, and in rhizome at the stage of root tuber expansion. At the final stage, it mainly accumulates in root tuber.


CONCLUSIONS
Cultivation technologies of C. longa and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of C. longa and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stages.
Li
Qing-Miao
QM
Sichuan Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chengdu 610041, China. liqingmao@hotmail.com
Zhang
Chun-Mei
CM
Zhang
Mei
M
Shu
Guang-Ming
GM
Tang
Xue-Mei
XM
Xia
Yan-Li
YL
Lei
Jia-Lun
JL
D030024:Curcuma / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003890:Desiccation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal