Effects of leaf harvest of different heights on bulb development and galanthamine content of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.)

Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.) is considered as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful flowers and as a medicinal plant due to its alkaloids in its bulbs and leaves. In recent years, there has been a demand for the leaves of the plant from abroad because it contains galantamine. Since the plant is a geophyte, what kind of effect the leaf harvest can have on the bulbs that continue to develop under the ground, knowing this well will contribute positively to both the protection and the development of the possibilities of benefiting from the plants. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum leaf harvestheight that can obtain the most galantamine and sustain the development of bulbs. The experiment was established with 4 replications according to the randomized blocks design and the bulbs with an average weight of 9-10 g were used as material. In the experiment, the plants leaves were harvested from 5 different heights (Control (nonharvesting), harvesting from soil level, harvesting from 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm above soil level). In each replication 30 bulbs and a total of 600 bulbs were used in the experiment. 1/2 mil, 1/2 soil mixture was used as growing medium. Plant height (cm), number of leaves per bulb, fresh leaf weight (g/plot), amount of galantamine in leaves obtained from different cutting heights (%), number of harvested bulbs(per plot), bulbs weight (g/plot), unit bulb weight (g), amount of galantamine in bulb (%) measurements were made. According to the results; It was determined that the number of leaves in the first year was ranged 2.200 - 3.600 per plant, the amount of galantamine in the leaves 0.067 - 0.094%, and it ranged 4.500 - 5.500 per plant, 0.063 - 0.096 % for the second year in the same order. At the end of the second year, the plant height ranged 19,800 - 23,400 cm, bulb weight ranged 349,125 - 498,600 g/plot, amount of galantamine in bulb ranged 0,326 – 0,376%, unit blub weight ranged 6,083 - 8,085 g and the highest values were obtained from the control (non-harvesting) application. The lowest number of bulbs was obtained from harvesting at soil level with 55,500 number per plot, and the highest that leaves harvested from 10 cm and 15 cm height with 68,000 and 66,500 number per plot respectively. Harvesting the leaves from soil level negatively affected the bulb induction and the least number of bulbs were obtained, but the highest amount of galantamine in leaves was obtained from the same application in both years. It was determined that harvesting the leaves from different heights had an effect on bulb development and the amount of galantamine in leaves and bulbs. Keywords : Alkaloid, HPLC, geofit, daughter bulb, leaf cutting