Traits of growth of various species of medicinal plants of the genus Aloe in greenhouse and the accumulation of phenolic compounds in them

The growth of ten species of the genus Aloe (A. variegata, A. isaloensis, A. dorotheae, A. striata, A. immaculata, A. congolensis, A. deltoideodonta, A. vera, A. arborescens, and A. pluridens) grown in greenhouses, as well as morphometric parameters and the total content of phenolic compounds in their leaves, were studied. The investigated species are characterized by significant differences in the height of plants and the square of their leaves. A. arborescens and A. vera were the tallest plants, while A.immaculata was the lowest. With the ontogenetic development, the leaf area in all species increased and in the adult state was 1.5 - 3 times higher than that in young ones. A. vera had the highest scores, and the smallest ones are in A. isaloensis. Determination of the total content of phenolic compounds showed a higher level in leaves aged 1.5 year compared to the earlier stages of their ontogenesis (6 months), which is most expressed in A. congolensis. The lowest content of these secondary metabolites was observed in A. variegata, A. immaculata, A. striata. A. arborescens, A. pluridens, A. vera and A. dorotheae it was 2-3 times higher. The highest total content of phenolic compounds is typical for A. deltoideodonta (independently of leaf age), A. isaloensis and A. congolensis. All this indicates significant differences in the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the leaves of various Aloe species and the dependence of this process on the ontogenetic phase of their development.

Aloe, medicinal plants, Aloe, growth, morphometry, phenolic compounds