Impact of Organic Fertilization on Polyphenolic Content in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) Genotypes from Romania

  • Mihaela Anca COȘERAN University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca
  • Daniela BENEDEC Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Daniela HANGANU Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Vlad NECHITA Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine
  • Mihaela-Ancuța NECHITA Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Anca TOIU Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Ilioara ONIGA Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
  • Emilia CONSTANTINESCU University of Craiova, Faculty of Agronomy
  • Andreea D. ONA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca
  • Marcel DUDA University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca
Keywords: biofertilization, genotype, active principles, organic fertilizers, Romanian milk thistle varieties, polyphenols, Silybum marianum

Abstract

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. is a major source of active principles, but also a plant that perfectly meets the needs of sustainable agriculture. The present research analyses the efficiency of organic fertilization for the increase of active principles in the fruits of milk thistle cultivated in the area of Măciuca, southern Vâlcea County, Romania. The aim of this work was the spectrophotometric determination of the total polyphenols content (TPC) of five different genotypes of milk thistle (Prahova, a1; Secuieni, a2; Iași, a3; Dacia Plant, a4; Brașov, a5) both unfertilized, and treated with organic fertilizers. Significant quantitative differences were identified between the five populations of Silybum marianum, the genotypes "Dacia Plant" fertilized and "Prahova" unfertilized presenting the highest TPC (18.87 mg GAE/g, 18.15 mg GAE/g, respectively). Fertilization did not necessarily have an impact on the accumulation of polyphenols in the fruits, but the climatic and soil conditions, as well as the genetic background being able to influence the quality of the milk thistle fruits.

Published
2024-12-26
How to Cite
COȘERAN, M. A., BENEDEC, D., HANGANU, D., NECHITA, V., NECHITA, M.-A., TOIU, A., ONIGA, I., CONSTANTINESCU, E., ONA, A. D. and DUDA, M. (2024) “Impact of Organic Fertilization on Polyphenolic Content in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) Genotypes from Romania”, Hop and Medicinal Plants, 32(1-2), pp. 225-235. doi: 10.15835/hpm.v32i1-2.15027.