Summary
In breeding Atropa belladonna for high alkaloid content it is of importance to know whether the alkaloid content is affected by the environment. Therefore some experiments on the influence of temperature were carried out in the phytotron of our Institute. As the results were in agreement with each other only one experiment is discussed in which the influence of three constant temperatures, viz. 20°, 23° and 26°C, on growth rate, dry matter, and alkaloid content of yellow-flowered Atropa belladonna L. was studied.
It was found that development was quickest at 23°C, followed by 26° and 20°C. Temperature had little or no effect on the height of the plants and weight of dry matter in the corresponding developmental stages. The highest alkaloid content was reached at 23°C; at 26° and 20°C the alkaloid content was lower. The differences were slight but mathematically reliable.
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Elzenga, G., Smeets, L. & De Bruyn, J.W. Influence of the temperature on growth and alkaloid content of first-year Atropa belladonna L.. Euphytica 5, 276–280 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038849
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00038849