INFLUENCE OF SOIL TYPE ON GROWTH AND ARTEMISININ CONTENT OF WORMWOOD (ARTEMISIA ANNUA L.) CHEN YOUNG VARIETY IN SOKOTO

Artemisia annua L. produce an array of complex secondary plant metabolite including artemisinin (ART), which kills the principal malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, a compound current interest in treatments drug resistant malaria. However, this remain expensive and hardy available on global scale. Synthesis ART has been proved to be economically impossible. Therefore, increase yield natural occurring is necessary. The study evaluated influence soil types germination, growth content A. Chen Young variety Sokoto agro ecological region Nigeria and. A greenhouse experiment was conducted 2017 at Botanical garden Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. seeds were sown plastic pots containing clay, sandy loamy soils completely randomized design with 4 replications. Germination percentage (G), Mean germination time (MT), Coefficient variation (CVt), rate (MR), Uncertainty (U) Synchrony (Z) evaluated. Growth parameter Artemisinin also determined. determined quantified high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using calibration curve constructed by plotting peak area against concentration (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 µg/ml) standard solutions. results revealed that had no significant effect parameters (P<0.05). clay highest G, MT CVt than soils. speed per day observed soil. Clay least values U (2.277±0.2 bit) while degree overlapping frequent (Z). result obtained shows treatment significantly affected type higher (37.73 follow 17.90 15.70 µg/ml respectively. This concludes can germinate survived different Savanna Nigeria. suggested use cultivation for its content.