Effect of copper and zinc on yield and quality of Salviae miltiorrhizae Bunge

In order to investigate the effects of microelements including copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) on Salviae miltiorrhizae Bunge root weight, contents and cumulants of three tanshinones (cryptotanshinone, tanshinoneⅠand tanshinone IIA), and transfer and distribution of Cu and Zn in Salviae miltiorrhizae , a sand culture experiments were conducted. The results showed that both Salviae miltiorrhizae root weight and the contents and cumulants of three tanshinones increased with the increasing of Cu and Zn concentration. During the early period of growing season, the increase rate of Salviae miltiorrhizae root weight was the highest, and it appeared the lowest at the end of growing season. The cumulants of three tanshinones reached their highest in the early period and prophase of growing season. The dynamic monitoring on responses of the contents of tanshinones to Cu and Zn showed that: the contents of tanshinones at 60 d were the lowest，then they increased with the time and reached the highest at 120d, and then dropped from 150d. The contents of Cu and Zn in upper and underground parts of Salviae miltiorrhizae increased with the increasing of Cu and Zn concentration. At the same concentration, Cu and Zn contents of the underground part were higher than upper one. Contents of Cu and Zn in upper and underground parts of Salviae miltiorrhizae first increased with time and reached their highest at 150d, and then decreased from 180 d.