Biochemical peculiarities of Glebionis coronaria (Asteraceae)introduced in Central Polissya of Ukraine

Abstract

Glebionis coronaria (= Chrysanthemum coronarium; Asteraceae) is a valuable vegetable, medicinal, and ornamental plant known under vernacular names garland chrysanthemum, crown daisy, etc. This species is not cultivated in the Central Polissya area of Ukraine; therefore, it is relevant to conduct the introduction studies of this valuable and rather hardy plant species, and to study its biochemical features. The aim of the present research was to carry out a comparative biochemical analysis of plant material of two varieties of garland chrysanthemum: G. coronaria var. discolor and G. coronaria var. coronaria. The objective was to determine how the conditions of introduction can influence the amount of valuable substances in the aerial mass of plants, depending on vegetation conditions; as well as the possibility of using the plants in food industry, pharmacy, and cosmetology. The introduction studies were conducted during 2014–2016 in the experimental plots of the Botanical Garden of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University, and biochemical studies were carried out at the laboratory of the Department of Cultural Flora of the M.M.Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. After studying the biochemical content of top biomass of G. coronaria introduced in Central Polissya of Ukraine, it has been found that the plant contains a number of valuable compounds, such as: ascorbic acid, carotene, sugars, fats, certain macro-, microelements and tannins. Plants of two varieties, G. coronaria var. discolor and var. coronaria, proved to be statistically similar as to the dry matter content, total sugars, carotenes, ascorbic acid, phosphorus, calcium, ash, tannins, fats, traces of copper, zinc, iron; the exception being manganese, the amount of which was higher in G. coronaria var. coronaria. Biochemical indices of plants changed over the years of research depending on the conditions of growing seasons. The obtained results testify to the fact that G. coronaria is a valuable introduced plant and a potentially rich source of biologically active substances necessary for human life-sustaining activity. Glebionis coronaria is a perspective vegetable plant for cultivation in the Polissya zone of Ukraine and climatically similar temperate regions for its utilization in food industry and pharmacy.