Background:

The influence of soil nutrients on biosynthesis of secondary metabolites from tropical trees has been poorly investigated.

Questions:

Does the deprival of Ca2+ and K+ influence the production of pharmacologically active compounds in the seedling of Calophyllum brasiliense?

Species study:

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess.

Study site:

Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico; November 2005 to November 2009.

Methods:

The seedlings were obtained from seeds and subjected to different hydroponic treatments: 1) modified Hoagland solution (MHS), 2) MHS-Ca2+, and 3) MHS-K+. Growth, height, foliar biomass, and HPLC analysis were performed after 7 months.

Results:

Under hydroponic conditions Ca2+ and K+ deficiency induced the mortality of 53 % and 28 % of the seedlings, respectively. The foliar biomass, and plant height of the survivors were also drastically reduced. MHS-K+ treatment induced a 15, 4.2 and 4.3-fold decrease for calanolides B, C, and apetalic acid in the leaves, respectively. MHS-Ca2+ treatment induced a decrease of 4.3, and 2.4-fold for calanolide B, and C, respectively.

Conclusion:

Ca2+ is essential for survival of C. brasiliense seedlings under hydroponic conditions, Ca2+ and K+ are critical for growth, foliar production, and biosynthesis of apetalic acid, and calanolide B.