Effects Of Drought Stress On The Growth, Physiology And Secondary Metabolite Production In Pinellia Ternata Thunb.

Pinellia ternata grown under four water regimes in a greenhouse. The morphology traits and photosynthetic pigment content were highest in P. ternata plants grown under the well-watered treatment. The antioxidant activities and malondialdehyde content were significantly greater in P. ternata under drought condition. The soluble protein content of P. ternata was significantly higher under moderate drought stress, but the soluble sugar content of P. ternata was significantly lower under severe and moderate drought stress. Additionally, the total alkaloid content of P. ternata showed the highest increase under severe drought stress, but the guanosine and succinic acid contents of P. ternata were significantly lower under drought stress. The maximum yield of total alkaloid, guanosine and succinic acid of P. ternata were obtained under the well-watered regime. The results suggest that a well-watered condition can contribute to the yield of tuber and secondary metabolites production in P. ternata.