Biomass Production and Quality of Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata [L.] Jack) Leaves at Two Harvest Interval

Abstract

Orange jessamine is a medicinal plant that has potential as an antioxidant and until now information on the cultivation and quality of its leaves active compound still limited. This research was conducted at Bogor Agricultural University experimental station (Indonesia), from April to October 2013. The objectives of this research was to study the effect of harvest interval on biomass production and bioactive content. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with single factor, i.e. 5 and 12 weeks harvest interval, with three replications. Data were analyzed using t student test. Plants harvested every 12- weeks gives best yield and regrowth for orange jessamine. Protein content and PAL activity were increased in the next harvest, either at 5 or 12-weeks harvest interval. Plants harvested every 5-weeks for three harvests had no significantly different on phenol and flavonoid production with 12-weeks harvest interval for one harvest.