Effects of different cultivation densities on the growth and quality of Artemisia scoparia
[Objective]To investigate the effects of different cultivation densities on the yield and main functional components synthesis and accumulation of Artemisia scoparia,and determine the appropriate cultivation density to improve the quality of medicinal materials.[Methods]A total of 8 groups of different cultivation densities were set up in the experimental field with plant row spacing of 15 cm×20 cm(M1),15 cm×25 cm(M2),15 cm×30 cm(M3),20 cm×20 cm(M4),20 cm×30 cm(M5),25 cm×20 cm(M6),25 cm×25 cm(M7),25 cm×30 cm(M8),based on different harvesting periods,measure growth indicators and main component content,and conduct principal component analysis.[Results]With the decrease of cultivation density,the plant height,petiole length,and fresh weight per plant of Artemisia scoparia gradually increased,and the number of branches increased.The survival rate,stem diameter,and plot yield showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing,but there was no significant change in the length and width of Artemisia scoparia leaves.As the cultivation density decreases,the content of volatile oil in Artemisia scoparia gradually increases.The content of total flavonoids,chlorogenic acid,caffeic acid,and 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing,and the chlorogenic acid content of Artemisia scoparia under different cultivation densities meets the pharmacopoeia limit standards.Based on the yield and active ingredient content information of Artemisia scoparia,and the comprehensive evaluation results of principal component analysis(PCA),the recommended optimal cultivation density for Artemisia scoparia is 25 cm×20 cm(M6).[Conclusion]Appropriate cultivation density can effectively improve the yield and quality of Artemisia scoparia,providing scientific experimental data support for the further establishment of standardized and large-scale cultivation systems in the field of Artemisia scoparia.