Morphology and productivity of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) in Central Polissya (Ukraine)

• Published in: Ukrainian journal of ecology 2020-09, Vol.10 (3), p.48-55
• Main Authors: Ivashchenko, I, Kotyuk, L, Bakalova, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artemisia dracunculus; Biometrics; Body organs; Comparative analysis; Ecology; Flowering; Flowers; Flowers & plants; Food industry; Gardens & gardening; Introduced plants; Length; Life cycle; Life cycles; Morphology; Oils & fats; Plant reproductive structures; Productivity; Raw materials; Reproductive organs; Seeds; Shoots; Tuberculosis
• ISSN: 2520-2138
• DOI: 10.15421/2020_132

The aim of the research was to study morphology and productivity of various plant forms of Artemisia dracunculus introduced in Central Polissya (Ukraine). We found that the studied forms of A. dracunculus in the flowering phase varied in the number of shoots on the average from 59.6 to 76.7 pcs., the shoots length averaged from 103.2 to 141.8 cm, the stem were erect, light green (Form 1), deep green (Form 2) or dark green (Form 3). The leaves had entire margin and were linear-lanceolate or almost linear, while in the lower part of the shoots they were cut into 2-3 segments, their length varied from 6.8 ± 0.32 to 8.3 ± 0.42, and their width - from 0.56 ± 0.03 to 0.79 ± 0.03 cm; the panicle length ranged from 35.2 ± 2.6 to 47.9 ± 3.5 cm. The number of flower heads in the panicle averaged from 814.6 ± 93.7 to 1889 ± 162.7 pcs. The mass of aerial parts varied from 677.2 to 4562 g per plant, the raw material productivity ranged from 1.13 ± 0.23 to 6.87 ± 0.25 kg/m2. A comparative analysis of the three forms of A. dracunculus revealed differences in some biometric parameters: the length of shoots and inflorescences, the number of shoots and flower heads in the panicle of a year-old shoot, and the diameter of the stem. Plants in Form 1 excelled those in Forms 2 and 3 as to the length of shoots 1.37 and 1.27 times respectively, as to the length of inflorescences 1.26 and 1.36 times respectively, and the stem diameter in Form 1 was 1.4 times wider than in Forms 2 and 3. The maximum number of shoots was registered in Form 2, on the average over the years of research it constituted 76.7 pcs. Introduced plants of the studied forms differed significantly in raw material productivity. Over the six years, plants of Form 1 showed the highest average productivity of 4.5 ± 1.2 kg/m2, which is 2.1 and 1.4 times more higher than in Forms 3 and 2. A. dracunculus plants under conditions of Central Polissya undergo an incomplete life cycle: they are able to form vegetative and reproductive organs; however, their seeds do not ripen. Thus, the present research proves that cultivation of tarragon, especially the plants of Form 1 in Central Polissya is rather promising for further use in food industry, pharmacy and cosmetology.