The effect of colour grading of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) seeds on their quality for sowing

Journal Title: Herba Polonica - Year 2017, Vol 63, Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is a medicinal plant belonging to Asteraceae family. Extract from milk thistle achenes (termed in practice as seeds) contains sylimarin, which protects liver cells against inorganic and organic toxic compounds. Objective: The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of colour grading on the quality of milk thistle seeds. Methods: Seeds were graded manually by colour according to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, issued in Great Britain. In three samples two fractions of seeds were separated: beige and brown, whereas seeds of the fourth sample were graded into three fractions: yellow, beige and brown. The 1000-seed weight and germination of graded and non-graded seeds were evaluated. Infestation of graded seeds with fungi was assessed. Results: Brown seeds had a higher 1000-seed weight than beige or yellow ones. Germination at the final count of beige seeds did not differ as compared to that of brown seeds or was even better. Milk thistle seeds were infested with numerous fungi, however Alternaria alternata and Ulocladium consortiale predominated. Conclusions: Less mature beige seeds can be used as sowing material because their germination at the final count did not differ as compared to that of fully mature brown seeds or was even better. Infestation of these seeds with some of the fungi was lower than brown seeds.

Authors and Affiliations

Agnieszka Rosińska, Hanna Dorna, Dorota Szopińska, Katarzyna Seidler-Łożykowska

Keywords

Related Articles

Development of novel plant-based adjuvant formulation against rubella and hepatitis B vaccine antigen

Introduction: Numerous metabolites present in the aqueous extract from plants are responsible for inducing adjuvant activity against rubella and hepatitis B vaccine antigen (HBsAg). One of the medicinal plants, Adhatoda...

Plant endophytic fungi as a source of paclitaxel

Endophytic fungi were isolated from different parts of the plants Corylus avellana (Corylaceae) and Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae) and then identified to the genus level based on the morphology of the fungal culture and th...

Statistical analysis of the associations between phenolic monoterpenes and molecular markers, AFLPs and SAMPLs in the spice plant Oregano

Introduction: Molecular markers are the examples of the contribution of genome technology to medicinal plant breeding through marker-assisted selection (MAS) for pharmaceutical quality. Objective: Forty-two accessions of...

Setting of southern sweet-grass plantation with stem cuttings obtained by division of maternal plants

Southern sweet-grass (Hierochloë australis /Schrad./ Roem. & Schult.) is a perennial, wild growing tuft grass occurring in North-East Poland, Belarus and Finland. In Poland the species is under the partial legal protecti...

Antidiarrheal activity of fractions from aqueous extract of Detarium senegalense

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fractions of the aqueous crude extract of Detarium senegalense stem bark on castor oil-induced diarrhea. Castor oil-induced diarrhea, gastrointestinal motilit...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP327459
  • DOI 10.1515/hepo-2017-0001
  • Views 63
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Agnieszka Rosińska, Hanna Dorna, Dorota Szopińska, Katarzyna Seidler-Łożykowska (2017). The effect of colour grading of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) seeds on their quality for sowing. Herba Polonica, 63(1), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-327459