Effect of gibberlline spray on growth and some chemical constituents of Calendula officinalis, L. plants grown under diluted sea water conditions [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study was carried out during two successive seasons of 2003/04 and 2004/05 on pot marigold plant (Calendula officinalis, L.) at the Experimental Stallon of Ornamental plants, Fac. of Agric., Mansoura Univ., aiming to study the effect of different salinity levels of diluted sea water (2.5, 5 and 10 'Yo), which were equivalent to the application of 825,1650 and 3300 ppm, respectively, and three gibberelline concentrations (25, 50 and 100 ppm), in addition to their interacting effect on growth and chemical constituents. The results showed that salinity levels in most cases led to lower values of plant height (em), stem diameter (em), number of leaves and inflorescences, dry weights of herb (g), the contents of chlorophyll a, b in the leaves, flowers content of carotenoids as well as N, P and K percentages in the two seasons. Gibberellic acid at all concentrations considerably improved the prementioned growth parameters and the three photosynthetic pigments content, however, the medium and high concentrations (50 and 100 ppm) were, in most cases, the most effective treatments. Moreover, application of GA;, significantly increased concentration of N, P and K in the leaves which were increased parallel to the increase in the gibberellic acid concentrations in the two seasons. It could be concluded that gibberellic acid at 50 and 100 ppm was effective in alleviating the harmful or the impaired effects caused by salinity on different vegetative traits and chemical composition which reflected, in turn, on growth and development of plants

Summary in Arabic.

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