Reaction of Some Morpho Physiological Parameters of Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) to Methanol and Ethanol

Echinacea purpurea L. is an herbaceous perennial plant in the Asteraceae family that is used in therapy of respiratory tract infection and bacterial otitis [1]. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the methanol and ethanol foliar application effects on the relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, leaf area, leaf dry weight of Purple coneflower. The experiment was done in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 15 treatments and 3 replications in a research farm in (ACECR), Karaj. The treatments for this study include: control (distilled and without distilled water), ethanol and methanol aqueous solutions each one of them with 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% (v/v). The results indicated that the effect of treatment on traits had significant difference (p < 0.01). The most amount of relative water content (RWC), leaf dry weight per plant (59.61 g) was obtained at 40% methanol. The maximum of leaf chlorophyll content (46.07 SPAD), leaf area per plant (7076.74 cm²) was observed in 30% methanol. This study indicates that hydro alcoholic solutions can be used as a carbon sources and a natural stimulator that increase the quantity and quality of photosynthetic organs of Echinacea purpurea. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the Institute of medicinal plants (ACECR) for their assistance. References: [1] Sandra, CM (2004) Echinacea. The genus Echinacea: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Industrial Profiles. 39: 271.