[Correlation analysis on main agronomic characters, yield per plant, artemisinin percentage contents and total artemisinin content per plant of Artemisia annua].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationships among the main agronomic characters, yield per plant,content of artemisinin of Artemisia annua, and provide the theoretical basis for breeding the A. annua varieties with high-yield and high artemisinin content.


METHODS
The main agronomic characters, yield per plant, artemisinin content of the wild and cultivated A. annua of Sichuan province were investigated and determined, and the correlated relationships among them were analyzed.


RESULTS
It was showed that the weight of dried stem per plant had very significantly positive correlation with the yield per plant,and the number of primary branches, the diameter of stem had significantly positive correlation with the yield per plant. The flower bud stage, first flowering stage and full-bloom stage had significantly positive correlation with the artemisinin content. The first flowering stage and full-bloom stage had significantly positive correlation with the total artemisinin content per plant. The weight of dried stem per plant,the diameter of stem and the flower bud stage had significantly correlation with the total artemisinin content per plant. A. annua with the purple-stem had significant higher artemisinin content than that with the green-stem. Through the multiple regression analysis, the classic multiple regression equation of the yield per plant was gained as Y = 0.06121-0.000 08X(1) + 0.30378X(3) - 0.00051X(4) - 0.00031X5 (F = 20.15, P < 0.0001), the classic multiple regression equation of the artemisinin content as Y = -1.45849 - 0.00099X(1) - 0.24079X(3) + 0.13362X(6) - 0.00719X(7) + 0.01454X(9) (F = 46.55, P < 0.0001), the classic multiple regression equation of the total artemisinin content per plant as Y = -2.67001 - 0.00249X(1) + 0.98873X(3) + 0.30037X(6) + 0.113X(9) F = 22.62, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The plant with purple, thick and strong stem, higher plant height, moderate primary branches number and bloom stage, small stem-branch angle should be selected for a breeding new A. annua varieties with high yield and artemisinin content.
Liao
Kai
K
College of Agronomy-Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
Wu
Wei
W
Zheng
Youliang
Y
Li
Kaiqiang
K
Liu
Zhigang
Z
D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002681:China; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D037621:Artemisinins; C031327:artemisinin