LEZCANO, Yohanka et al. Bromatological characterization of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray in two stages of its physiological cycle. []. , 35, 3, pp. 275-282. ISSN 0864-0394.

The objective of the study was to characterize bromatologically some essential components of the nutritional value of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray in two stages of the physiological cycle (30 and 60 days), during the rainy (RS) and dry seasons (DS). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with six treatments derived from the relationship between the edible fractions (leaves, fresh stems and leaves plus fresh stems) and the moments of the plant physiological cycle. The indicators measured were: dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and ash. The statistical package SPSS version 15.0 for Windows was used for the variance analysis. The foliage of tree marigold showed variations in its nutritional quality. The best values of CP (29,79% and 28,69%), Mg (0,094% and 0,210%) and ash (16,32% and 20,59%) were found after 30 days, for the RS and DS, respectively, with similar results among the edible fractions for the two stages of the physiological cycle, during the two evaluated seasons. The CF content found in the fresh stems after 60 days was the most representative in both seasons (5,29 and 5,27% respectively). Integrally, the fraction leaves plus fresh stems reached the best values of the measured indicators to be used in animal feeding.

: Tithonia diversifolia; nutritional value.

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