CONTENTS

EFFECT OF HARVESTING STAGES AND DRYING METHODS ON ALKALOID
(26.46kg ha -1 ). In ratoon crop, among drying methods
maximum alkaloid content was recovered at mature
green berry stage. Among the drying methods adopted
for recovery of alkaloid content in different parts of
makoi, the optimum recovery was in shade drying
irrespective of stage of harvesting while minimum
recovery was observed in sun drying method. Hence
the quality and quantity of alkaloid recovery was
optimum under shade drying only.
Table 3. Effect of harvesting stages and drying methods on alkaloid content in ratoon crop (dry) (kg/
ha) of makoi (Solanum nigrum L.)
TREATMENT D 1 D 2 D 3 Mean
H1 0.94 2.95 1.90 1.93
H2 2.80 7.78 4.25 4.94
H3 23.91 30.15 25.32 26.46
Mean 9.22 13.62 10.49 11.11
F-test SEm CD@5%
H * 0.17 0.52
D * 0.17 0.52
HD * 0.30 0.91
There was steady increase in total alkaloid
content from 100% flowering stage to mature green
berry stage. Drying methods also influenced the
alkaloid content, where as under sun drying, the
lowest alkaloid content was recorded irrespective of
the stage of harvest. This might be due to
deterioration or decomposition of constituents in the
drying of produce when exposed directly to sun light.
Oven drying has reduced the yield and recorded lesser
alkaloid content when compared to shade dried
herbage. This may be due to the damage to the
tissues or degradation of alkaloid due to high light
intensity. The crop was dried in the oven at 45 0 C ±
1 0 C temperature, but they had low alkaloid, when
compared to shade dried produce. These findings
are in confirmation with the earlier reports of Leela
and Angadi (1992) in mints.
REFERENCES
Banik, A .S., Mukhopahyay D.L.K and Chaudhari,
R.K 1990. Content and purity of extracted
solasodine in some available species of
Solanum. Science and Culture 56 (5): 214-
216.
Ridout,C.L., Price, K.R., Coxon, D.T and Fenwick
G.R 1989. Glyco-alkaloids from Solanum
nigrum L solamargine and alpha solasonine.
Pharmazie 44(10): 732-733.
Leela, N. K and Angadi, S.P 1992. Effect of post
harvest drying of herbage on yield and quality
of essential oil in the Metha sp EC41911.
Indian Perfumer 36(4): 235-237.
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