Comparative studies on the introduction and performance of Solanum khasianum Clarke and Solanum mammosum L. at Medicinal Plants Farm Peshawar
Comparative studies on the introduction and performance of Solanum khasianum Clarke and Solanum mammosum L. at Medicinal Plants Farm Peshawar
Anwar Ahmad Khan and Shakeel Haider Zaidi
ABSTRACT
Solanum khasianum and Solanum mammosum are well-known
for their solasodine content, which is the precursor for
the preparation of cortisone. To assess the
possibilities of their acclimatization and cultivation,
yield trials with various spacings were conducted for
three consecutive year i.e., from 1982 to 1984 at
Peshawar. S. mammosum though gave higher yield of fresh
berries (1033 kg/ha) as compared to S. khasianum (746kg/ha) but S. mammosum was found to be highly
susceptible to black shank disease caused by
Phytophthora spp. during 1984, whereas S. khasianum was
resistant. Chemical analysis of berries depicted higher
percentage of solasodine content (2.65%) in S. khasianum
as compared to S.mammosum (1.5%). The results of chemical
analysis are in conformity with Atal and Kapoor
1977.Spacing of 75 x 75 cm was found to be suitable in
both the species. S. khasianum on the basis of better
performance and resistance to black shank disease could
be recommended for cultivation by pharmaceutical
concerns under Peshawar climatic conditions.
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September 1988
Vol. 38, Iss. 3
