Protein and Anthocyanin Production of Waterleaf Shoots (Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd) at Different Levels of Nitrogen+Potassium and Harvest Intervals

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at IPB Experimental Station, Leuwikopo, Dramaga, Bogor, from November 2009 until
February 2010 to study the effect of different nitrogen+potassium rates and harvest intervals on protein and anthocyanin
production of waterleaf shoot (Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd). A randomized complete block design was used with three
replications of two factors, which were four N+K dosages (50 kg urea + 50 kg ha-1 KCl, 50 kg urea + 100 kg ha-1 KCl, 100 kg
urea + 50 kg ha-1 KCl, 100 kg urea + 100 kg ha-1 KCl) and three harvest intervals (30, 15, and 10 days). The results showed
that interaction of 100 kg urea + 100 kg ha-1 KCl and 15-day harvest interval produced the highest content (8.29 mg g-1 fresh
weight) and production (4.72 g plant-1) of protein. The interaction of N+K dosages and harvest intervals were not signifi cant
in affecting the anthocyanin content. The highest production of anthocyanin was produced by single treatment of 100 kg urea
+ 100 kg ha-1 KCl (152.23 μmol plant-1) and 10 days harvest interval (165.47 μmol plant-1), respectively. Leaf protein levels
negatively correlated with anthocyanin content.
Keywords: anthocyanin, fertilizer, harvest interval, protein, Talinum triangulare