Germination and Growth of Artemisia annua Seedlings in the Ivorian Coastal Zone: Case of the CNRA Marc DELORME Station

Abstract

Artemisia annua is a cultivated plant originating from China used in the treatment of malaria. It has recently been introduced in Côte d’Ivoire where the production of seedlings is not yet mastered. The study evaluated the suitability of 6 different substrates, including four composts, to ensure seed germination on one hand and seedling growth on the other hand. Seedlings from a compost substrate were transplanted into pots containing an identical substrate in each of the nurseries under shade, open air, and greenhouse. On average, 80% of seeds germinated on each of the compost substrates, 26% on bare soil, and 40% on fallow soil under Pueraria phaseoloïdes. Two weeks after transplanting the seedlings into the nursery, high chlorophyll contents were obtained from seedlings produced on coconut sawdust + P. phaseoloïdes compost (21.51 ± 6.6 SPAD), pig manure + P. phaseoloïdes + Panicum maximum compost (22.18 ± 6.18 SPAD), and coconut coir + P. phaseoloïdes compost (22.75 ± 5.57 SPAD). Furthermore, the open-air nursery allowed obtaining larger seedlings (height: 6 ± 0.52 cm), with a high average collar diameter (2.45 ± 0.85 mm), numerous and long leaves (18.59 ± 0.44 and 10.90 ± 0.28 cm, respectively).