Narcissus and Daffodil

% Galanthamine
0.040
0.035
0.030
0.025
0.020
0.015
0.010
0.005
0.000
Galanthamine extraction 263
Flower Scape Leaf Root Bulb Seed
Figure 9.4 Galanthamine content of the different plant organs of Narcissus ‘Carlton’ on
a fresh weight basis. Determined for flowering plants on 27 April, except
for seed which was analysed after opening of the capsules (27 June).
much nitrogen, however, leads to ‘soft’ bulbs, which are sensitive to plant diseases
and often rot (Erhardt, 1993). It was possible that the different screening results
obtained for the galanthamine content of Narcissus ‘Fortune’ from Hillegom and
Texel Island, the Netherlands (see Table 9.1) were a result of using different fertilisers
or different soil types. Therefore, the effect of different commercial fertilisers
on the galanthamine content of Narcissus ‘Carlton’ was examined.
Plots of narcissus were laid out in the old botanical garden of Marburg University.
Analysis of the soil gave results typical of sandy, loamy soil (pH 6.3 and nutrient
levels (mg/100 g soil) of 41 P 2 O 5 , 16 K 2 O, 11 Mg and 0.15 soluble N). One of the
plots was treated with 500 g N fertiliser per m 2 (‘Kalk-Ammon-Salpeter’, 27% N, of
which 13.5% nitrate-nitrogen and 13.5% ammonium-nitrogen), and another with
500 g K-Mg fertiliser per m 2 (30% K 2 O, 10% MgO). Untreated control plots were
also grown. These amounts of fertiliser were found to be excessive, and several
plants did not flower during the first year and the bulbs rotted. However, nearly
all of the plants developed normally in the second year. Figure 9.6 shows the
results of the galanthamine determination in the second year. The use of either
nitrogen or potassium/magnesium fertiliser increased the galanthamine content of
bulbs and leaves significantly over the control. An increase in galanthamine content
by 70% was achieved in the case of the nitrogen fertiliser, and of 113% after
using potassium/magnesium fertiliser. The results clearly demonstrated the effect
of fertilisers on galanthamine content. Not only was the total amount of alkaloids
markedly increased by fertiliser treatment, but also the percentage of galanthamine
in the alkaloid fraction.