EFFECT OF Β-SITOSTEROL AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON LEAF ANGLE ,GROWTH, FLOWERING AS WELL AS BIOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis) PLANT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Botany Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

 Marigold plant growth and orientation were improved by adding gibberellic acid (25, 50 and 100 mgL-1) and β-sitosterol (20, 40 and 80 mgL-1) as well as their interaction treatments. GA3 (25 mgL-1) was more effective on number of branches, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots/plant. While, GA3 (100 mgL-1) significantly increased plant height. Leaf angle was more decreased with GA3 than β-sitosterol application. Both GA3 (100 mgL-1) or β-sitosterol (40 mgL-1) significantly induced flowering earliness and number of marigold plant inflorescences. While low concentration of both substances improved the other characters of inflorescences. GA3 (100 mgL-1) and β-sitosterol (40 mgL-1) interaction significantly increased earliness, number and stalk length of marigold plant inflorescences.
Pigments (Chl.a & b and  carotenoids) and biochemical constituents (total sugars, indoles and free amino acids) were significantly enhanced with GA3 (25 mgL-1) and / or β-sitosterol (20 or 40 mgL-1) as foliar application. However, both the highest concentration of two bioregulators gave the highest phenolic content of marigold plant leaves. Additionally, GA3 (25 mgL-1) and β-sitosterol (40 mgL-1) interaction was more effective on leaves biochemical contents (Chl.a, carotenoids, total sugars, indols and free amino acids). Phenolic content was permanent increased with the highest concentration of both growth substances. GA3 and β-sitosterol appeared positive correlation between fresh weight of inflorescences and Chl.(a+b). All the results were significantly negative attributed with phenolic content of marigold plant leaves.

Keywords

Journal of Plant Production
Volume 33, Issue 11
November 2008
Pages 7845-7862

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