Response of Magnolia grandiflora l. seedlings to foliar application of magnesium, zinc and boron [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A pot experiment was carried out in the glass house of the Experimental Nursery of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Cairo University, Giza during 24 months -After a month from transplanting from 2006 to 2008. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of Magnolia grandiflora L. seedlings to foliar spray with magnesium at 25 and 50 ppm, zinc at 25 and 50 ppm and boron at 10 and 20 ppm. Data recorded on vegetative growth such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves/plant, fresh and dry weights of leaves, stems and roots and root length were significantly affected by the aforementioned treatments which were used in this study. As well as all the treatments of magnesium, zinc and boron had a clear effect on the chemical composition such as chlorophyll-a, b, carotenoids mg/gm F.W. in the leaves, carbohydrates % D.W. in the different organs of plants and the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium % D.W. in the different organs of Magnolia grandiflora L. seedlings, as compared with control treatment in most cases. Foliar application of Mg at 25 ppm significantly promoted plant height, Zn at the rate of 50 ppm gave the highest values of stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves/plant as well as Mg at 50 ppm produced the tallest root length, compared with control plants. Fresh and dry weights of the plant organs were significantly affected by application of the aforementioned application of treatments, compared with control plants. Chemical constituents, i.e., chlorophyll (a), chlorophyll (b), caroteniods, mineral content of N, P and K % and total carbohydrate content of different plant organs were increased by application of the aforementioned treatments as compared with the control.

Summary in Arabic.

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