Effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth, nutrient uptake and curcumin production of turmeric (.docVIP

Vol.4, No.2, 66-71 (2013) Agricultural Sciences /10.4236/as.2013.42011 Effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth, nutrient uptake and curcumin production of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Kenji Yamawaki , Atsushi Matsumura , Rintaro Hattori , Arata Tarui , 1 1* 1 1 2 1 1 Mohammad Amzad Hossain , Yoshiyuki Ohashi , Hiroyuki Daimon 1 * 2 Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan; Corresponding Author: matsu@plant.osakafu-u.ac.jp Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan Received 1 January 2013; revised 31 January 2013; accepted 7 February 2013 ABSTRACT diment, dye, drug and cosmetic. Over the past few dec- ades, a considerable number of studies have been con- ducted on turmeric. Curcumin, which is active yellow pigment found in turmeric rhizome, has been known as a natural antioxidant with antitumor activity [1], an inhibi- tor of arachidonic acid metabolism [2], and a good anti- inflammatory agent [3]. Previously, it was evaluated as a chemopreventive agent by the National Cancer Institute [4]. Due to increasing demand at medicinal properties, the social concern with turmeric has been growing for the last several years. Japan imports around 4000 tons of dried turmeric per year from India, China and other Asian countries. On the other hand, the domestic tur- meric production is limited only about 100 tons of fresh one per year. Although turmeric growing area was li- mited in Okinawa islands and part of subtropical regions previously, it has been expanding gradually further to other regions in Japan. Turmeric requires heavy nutrients for higher yields [5-7]. Especially,