Abstract

Chrysanthemum indicum L. is a significant medicinal plant, which flowers (capitula) are usually used as Chinese medicine. The phytochemical test analyzed the regularity of biosynthesis and degradation of flavonoids and phenolic acids in flowers which grown under colored polyethylene and harvested from five flowering stages. Dry weight of one thousand buds or flower heads from different maturation stages and total number of flowers from individual plant were evaluated as biomass yield. The results indicated that the total number of buds and flower heads of individual plant grown under red polyethylene film was substantially higher than other treatments (P<0.01), as well as accumulated more quercetin, apigenin and chlorogenic acid, but gave poor content of luteolin and caffeic acid. Comparing with plants grown in open condition, blue polyethylene has the lowest mean weight of one thousand buds or flower heads from different harvesting stages, but it has potentials to increase the total number of buds and flower heads from individual plant and the yield ofbioactive compounds total flavonoids, quercetin, apigenin, acacetin, linarin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, except luteolin.

Key word: Chrysanthemum indicum L., colored polyethylene, maturation, flavonoids, phenolic acids.