Physiological and anatomical studies on the effect of different fertilizers on the leaves of some medicinal and aromatic plants: 1- Mentha viridis L. [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Field experiment was carried out during two successive seasons 200112002 and 2002/2003 on Spearmint ( Mentha viridis L.) at Maryout research station, to study the effect of Ammonium sulphate 20.5% (60kg. N/Fed.) and a mixture of two a symbiotic nitrogen fixers micro-organisms ( Azotobacter chroococcum and Azosprillium lipoferum) on the vegetative growth, herb yield, volatile oil content and its components, chlorophyll-a & b , carotenes and the effect on leaf structure. The anatomieal study showed that fertilization had obvious effect on the size and area of the leaves, at the same time in the different tissue of the leaf. The chemical fertilizer caused to precipitate calcium oxalate as druses in the lower epidermis and in vascular tissues. It had been found that the essential oil were stored in the inner layers of the spongy close to the plisade tissue. Yield characters i.e. fresh and dry weight were affected with nitrogen application. The maximum yield was obtained as a result of 60 Kg NI fed. which increased the total fresh yield 1 feddan with 43.1 % and 44,5 % in the first and second season, respectively, While a symbiotic nitrogen fixers micro¬organisms increased the total fresh yield 1 feddan with 26.4 % and 29.9% in both seasons compared with the control. The percentage of 'the volatile oil, yield and its components were affected by fertilizer treatments. Carvon was the main constituents of volatile oil in all treatments, and reached the maximum value of 84.87 % in the bio-fertilizer treatment. Both chemical and bio- fertilizer treatments increased pigment contents in the leaf than the untreated plants.

Summary in Arabic.

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