RESPONSE OF SALTBUSH (ATRIPLEX HALIMUS L.) PLANTS TO SALINITY AND TYPE OF GROWING MEDIUM

A pot experiment was carried out under the full sun atOrman Botanic Garden, Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt during 2013 and2014 seasons in order to reveal the effect of different media, namely:pure sand, pure loam and sand + loam mixture at 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 ratiosalinized with a homogenous salt mixture of NaCl and CaCl2 (1:1,w/w) at 0.00, 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0% concentrations on growth andchemical composition of the 6-months-old transplants ofMediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus L.) cultivated in 40-cmdiameterclay pots filled with a known weight of the abovenamedmedia.The results of this experiment have shown that all vegetative androot growth measurements were significantly improved by the law andmedium levels of salinity (0.75 and 1.5%, respectively), with themastery of 0.75% level which gave the highest means various growthtraits except of leaf area character that reached the maximum values by1.5% level over control and other salinity treatments in the twoseasons. However, 3.0% rate significantly reduced means of thedifferent vegetative and root growth parameters to the least valuescompared to control in most cases of both seasons. The mixture ofsand + loam, especially at 1:2 and 2:1 ratio recorded the bestimprovement in vegetative and root growth parameters over all othermedia in the two seasons. The interaction between the 3 used mixturessalinized with 0.75% of salt mixture gave the tallest plants, thickeststems and highest No. branches and leaves/plant in both seasons, whilethe heaviest fresh and dry weights of aerial parts and roots wereachieved by 0.75% salinity level for plants cultivated in either puresand or pure loam, or in the mixture of both at equal parts (1:1). Thecontent of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids was slightly improved byeither soil salinity treatments or media contained loam granulars. Onthe other side, the content of Na, Ca, Cl and free proline wasprogressively increased with raising salinity level, but the opposite wasthe right concerning K content, which descendingly decreased withincreasing salinity rate. The content of Na and Cl was not markedlyaffect by medium type, whereas content of K, Ca and free proline wasgreatly increased in the leaves of plants cultivated in pure loam or puresand amended with loam at any ratio. The interaction treatments haveshown variable effects, as the highest content of Na and K was mostlyachieved by the low (0.75%) and medium (1.5%) salinity treatmentsunder loam or sand or sand + loam media, while the highest content ofCa, Cl and proline was scored by plants cultured in loam or sand +loam media salinized with the high salinity rate (3.0%). It appears from the previous results that Mediterranean saltbush(Atriplex halimus L.) plants can grow well in the loam or sandamended with loam media salinized with NaCl + CaCl2 salt mixture(1:1, w/w) at low and medium concentrations

IMPACT OF IRRIGATION WITH SALINE WATER ON GROWTH, QUALITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TALL FESCUE TURF (FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA SCHREB. VAR. FESTORINA)

Two tray experiments were conducted in the open field at Orman Botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons to study the effects of saline irrigation water prepared from NaCl and CaCl2 pure salts (1:1, by weight) at the rates of 0, 2000, 4000, 8000 and 12000 ppm on growth, quality and chemical composition of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. var. Festorina) plants cultivated by seeds in plastic trays (51 x 36 x 10 cm) filled with about 15 kg of loamy soil/ tray at the rate of 5 g seeds/tray. The obtained results in both seasons indicated that salinity of irrigation water up to 4000 ppm had no deleterious effects on plant height, density % and fresh and dry weights of herb and roots, except for 2000 ppm salinity treatment which significantly improved vegetative and root growth of treated plants compared to the control. The opposite was right regarding 8000 and 12000 ppm levels, which reduced all vegetative and root growth parameters, especially 12000 ppm level that gave the least means with significant differences when compared to control means in the two seasons. Moreover, chlorophylls a and b in the leaves and N and P content in the herb were decreased as the concentration of salinity was increased, while the contents of carotenoides, K, Na, Cl and the free amino acid proline were progressively increased with increasing salinity level. According to these results, it could be concluded that Festuca arundinacea Schreb. var. Festorina turf can relatively tolerate salinity of irrigation water up to 8000 ppm with the least harmful effects

CHRYSANTHEMUM AND GAILLARDIA AS STUNTED WINTER ANNUALS II. BLANKETFLOWER (GAILLARDIA PULCHELLA FOUG.)

Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.) is a tall herbaceous annual (more than 1 m long), usually subjects to slanting if it was grow alone in pot. So, the present investigation was carried out at Orman Botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt during the seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 in order to reduce its tall and branched stem by spraying the foliage with the aqueous solution of either paclobutrazol (PP-333) at 0, 50 and 100 ppm or cycocel (CCC) at 0, 1000 and 2000 ppm concentrations, two times with 3 weeks interval, and to study the effect of these treatments on flowering and chemical composition of 75-days-old seedlings of such winter annual when grown in 15-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 1.5kg of an equal mixture of sand and clay (1:1, v/v). The obtained results indicated that both PP-333 and CCC at various concentrations significantly decreased all vegetative and root growth criteria, with few exceptions compared to control in the two seasons. The low level of PP-333 caused about 20% reduction in height and branching of treated plants giving plants near at its size to those of control ones. On the contrary, the high level of CCC (2000 ppm) excessively decreased these parameters to more than 65% compared to control treatment, and that was accompanied with reducing root length to less than 10 cm in both seasons. However, the most appropriate size wherefrom height, branching and number of leaves was gained from applying either PP-333 at 100 ppm or CCC at 1000 ppm, with the preference 100 ppm PP-333 treatment which resulted the most suitable plant size in harmony with the pot size. The flowering was delayed due to all the used treatments, but delaying by CCC treatments was more than that by PP-333 ones (about 7-9 days against only 4-5 days, respectively). All other flowering characters were significantly decreased by the different levels of growth retardants used in this work in most cases of both seasons, except for the two rates of PP-333 which were raised inflorescence diameter and number of ray florets/inflorescence, with the superiority of PP-333 at 100 ppm treatment, as it gave the widest inflorescence with the utmost high number of ray florets per inflorescence at all. This treatment also resulted the shortest stalk length which was useful in restricting flower head nutation phenomenon in this plant. Paclobutrazol at any rate markedly increased chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total soluble sugars, total indoles and total phenols content in the leaves, whereas CCC treatments decreased content of these constituents with the exception of total phenols content that was greatly increased. From the previous results, it is recommended to spray the foliage of 75-days-old seedlings of Gaillardia pulchella winter annual plant with PP-333 at 100 ppm level, twice with 3 weeks interval for production of petit, dwarfed, flowering-pot-plant from commercial point of view

CHRYSANTHEMUM AND GAILLARDIA AS STUNTED WINTER ANNUALS I. TRICOLOR CHRYSANTHEMUM (CHRYSANTHEMUM CARINATUM SCHOUSB.)

Chrysanthemum carinatum Schousb. is a tall annual herb with a thin, weak stems suffers from slanting, but it is used excessively in Egypt for beautifying of beds and borders. So, a study was conducted at Orman Botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons to reveal the effect of foliar spraying with either paclobutrazol (PP-333) at the rates of 0, 50 and 100 ppm or cycocel (CCC) at the rates of 0, 1000 and 2000 ppm, twice with 3 weeks interval on growth performance, flowering and quality of 75-days-old seedlings of Chrysanthemum carinatum grown in 15-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 1.5 kg of sand + clay mixture (1:1, v/v). The obtained results have shown that means of all vegetative and root growth parameters were significantly decreased as a result of spraying with either PP-333 or CCC at various levels of each. The low level of both did not reduce the size of plants to the optimum size, as they caused a reduction mostly ranged between 20-25% only. The high level of CCC (2000 ppm), however induced a great decrement in most growth criteria reached about 65% or more compared to control in the two seasons. So, the plants appear more compressing than required, and that was accompanied by crinkled and smaller leaves. On the other hand, the high level of PP-333 (100 ppm) gave the most suitable plant size going with the pot size without any disorders. Flowering was delayed and the other flowering characters were decreased by the low and high levels of the two used growth retardants with the different significance levels relative to control in both seasons, except for inflorescence diameter and its fresh and dry weights traits which were significantly increased in response to spraying with any concentration of PP-333. The shortest stalk length was scored by PP-333 at 100 ppm treatment and that was benefit in preventing head nutation in the dwarfed plants. The results also indicated that PP-333 at either level increased the leaf content of chlorophyll a and b, total soluble sugars, total indoles and total phenols, but decreased content of carotenoids. On the other side, CCC treatments decreased content of chlorophyll a and b, total soluble sugars and total indoles but raised content of carotenoids and total phenols.    Accordingly, it is recommended to spray the foliar of 75-days-old seedlings of Chrysanthemum carinatum Schousb. cultivated in 15-cm-diameter plastic pots with PP-333 aqueous solution at the rate of 100 ppm, twice with 3 weeks interval to get a unique flowering-pot-plant suitable for commercial marketing

RESPONSE OF PEPEROMIA OBTUSIFOLIA (L.) A. DIETR CV. VARIEGATA PLANT TO SOME FERTILIZATION TREATMENTS

An experiment was established under plastic house at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to find out the effect of foliar spraying with active dry yeast solution at 0, 1, 3 and 5 g/l, soil drenching with NPK mixture (2:2:1) at 2 g/pot and the interaction between each level of yeast and that of NPK mixture on growth and chemical composition of 3- months-old transplants of Peperomia obtusifolia (L.) A. Diter. grown in 14-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 1 kg of an equal mixture of washed sand, clay and peatmoss (1:1:1, by volume.) The obtained results indicated that various single and combined treatments improved all vegetative and root growth parameters with various significant differences compared to the control in both seasons. Active dry yeast alone at 3 g/l treatment gave better result than the other individual ones, whereas comparing between any level of dry yeast combined with NPK (2 g/pot) was more effective in improving vegetative and root growth of plants than all the individual treatments, the interaction between 3 g/l active dry yeast and 2 g/pot NPK recorded the best growth at all in both seasons. On the same line were those results of pigments content in the leaves reached maximum by 3 g/l dry yeast, but the opposite was right regarding the percentages of total soluble sugars, N, P and K content those reached the highest values by the level of 5 g/l dry yeast in most cases of both seasons. However, content of those constituents was doubled by connecting between active dry yeast at any level and NPK mixture 2 g/pot, with the prevalence of 3 g/l active dry yeast plus 2 g/pot NPK combination, that gave the highest content in the two seasons. Hence, it can be recommended to fertilize Peperomia obtusifolia cv. Variegata plants cultivated in 14-cm-diameter plastic pots with active dry yeast at 3 g/l (as a foliar spray) plus NPK mixture (2:2:1) at 2 g/pot (as a soil drench), 5 times with one month interval to obtain the best vegetative growth and high pot plant qualit

INFLUENCE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZER, EM BIOSTIMULANT AND THEIR COMBINATIONS ON GROWTH AND QUALITY OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L. CV. SIWI OFFSHOOTS

A trial was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2013 and 2014 seasons to study the effect of individual application of EM biostimulant solution at 25 ml/l, NPK complete chemical fertilizer (20:20:20 + microelements) at the rates of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g/bag and their combinations on growth and chemical composition of 2-years – old offshoots of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Siwi planted in 50- cm-diameter plastic bags filled with about 35 kg of a mixture of sand and clay (2 : 1, v/v) under the full sun. The results showed that all fertilization treatments used in this study markedly improved all vegetative growth characters with various significant levels when compared to control in both seasons. The results indicated also that EM solution alone gave means closely near to those gained by NPK complete fertilizer at 5 g/bag with few exceptions in the two seasons. Moreover, increasing application rate of NPK fertilizer to 7.5 g/bag or more did not cause a pronounced increment in growth, but combining between EM treatment and NPK fertilizer at any rate did so, with the superiority of combining between 25 ml/l EM and 5 g NPK/bag, as this combination gave the highest means over all sole and other combined treatments in both seasons. Similar observations were also attained concerning the leaf let content of N, P, K, total indoles, chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids. Hence, it can be recommended to treat the 2-years-old offshoots of date palm cv. Siwi cultivated in 50-cm-diameter plastic bags with EM solution at 25 ml/l and NPK complete fertilizer at 5 g/bag to improve growth and quality of such offshoots before transferring to the permanent field

RESPONSE OF SEASHORE PASPALUM TURFGRASS TO IRRIGATION PERIODS AND HUMIC ACID

A trial was carried out in the open field at the Nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt during 2014 and 2015 seasons to examine the effect of irrigation periods, alone or plus foliar spraying with humic acid on growth and quality of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz). The irrigation periods were once every 3, 6 or 9 days, and the humic acid (liquid organic fertilizer, NPK 10:10:10) was applied at 20 ml/l, after each grass cut. The turfgrass was cultivated by sprigs in plastic trays (40×30×12 cm) filled with a mixture of sand and clay (1:1, v:v). The obtained results indicated that plant height, covering rate percentage, number of shoots/tray and grass fresh and dry weights were descendingly decreased in the two seasons with elongating the irrigation period to reach the minimum values when irrigation was done once every 9 days. However, applying humic acid significantly improved all previous traits, even for the 9 days interval treatment. The opposite was the right regarding the content of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids (mg/g fresh weight), total sugars (mg/g dry weight), as well as indoles and phenols (mg/100 g fresh weight), as they were progressively increased with prolonging irrigation period. Humic acid treatment was also led to raised content of the different constituents mentioned above. The supremacy in vegetative growth parameters was achieved by the combination of irrigation every 3 days + 20 ml/l humic acid, but in chemical composition it was by irrigation every 9 days + 20 ml/l humic acid combined treatment. So, it could be recommended to spray humic acid at the rate of 20 ml/l on the foliage of seashore paspalum turf after each cut at irrigation rate of once every 9 days to obtain the best growth and performance from a commercial point of view

FOLIAR FERTILIZATION WITH COMMERCIAL LIQUID FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVING GROWTH AND QUALITY OF SEASHORE PASPALUM TURF

An investigation was conducted under the open field condition at the Experimental Farm of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2013 and 2014 seasons to study the effect of some commercial liquid fertilizers; super blue-green (SBG) at the rates of 1 and 3 ml/l, Kalsin-A (K-A) at the rate of 1 ml/l and the combinations between the two levels of SBG and that of K-A on growth, density and chemical composition of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) planted in 40-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 6 kg of sand and clay mixture (1:1, by volume) when applied as a foliar spray, 5 times with one month interval. The control plants were sprayed with tap water only. The obtained results indicated that all single and combined treatments used in the study markedly improved all vegetative growth traits of the fertilized plants with various significant differences compared to control plants in the two seasons. Among the sole treatments, SBG at 3 ml/l treatment was the superior, whereas the same fertilizer and K-A one at 1 ml/l for each were the inferior. On the other hand, combined treatments induced a more improvement in all vegetative growth parameters than the individual ones, but the prevalence in both seasons was for SBG at 3 ml/l + K-A at 1 ml/l combined one, which gave the highest records at all. A similar trend was also observed as well regarding the leaf content of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, N, P, K, Ca and total soluble sugars except for 1 ml/l KA treatment which gave the highest content of Ca among the sole treatments, and the increment in total soluble sugars content was attained by the individual fertilization treatments as was not significant relative to control in both seasons. In addition, the total indole content was significantly increased in response to the different treatments used in this study to reach the maximum by the two combined treatments. The opposite was the right concerning the content of total phenols. Accordingly, it can be advised to spray the herb of seashore paspalum turf with a combination of super blue-green liquid fertilizer at 3 m/l plus Kalsin-A at 1 ml/l, five times with one month interval to obtain the best growth, coverage and colour

THE ROLE OF HUMIC AND AMINO ACIDS IN IMPROVING GROWTH AND QUALITY OF PASPALUM TURF

A field experiment was conducted at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC., Giza, Egypt during 2014 and 2015 seasons to study the effect of spraying with humic acid at 0, 5 and 10 ml/l and adding mixture of amino acids as soil drench at 0, 1 and 2 g/pot individually or in combinations on growth, covering rate (%) and chemical composition of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum, Swartz.) plants grown in 40-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with sand medium.The obtained results showed that all treatments caused improvement in plant height, covering rate, number of plants/pot and herb fresh and dry weights compared with control, also, chemical results of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids content in the leaves and total sugars content in the herb. The best treatments used resulted from the combining between humic acid at 10 ml/l and mixture of amino acids at 2 g/pot which recorded the highest means.Hence, in order to get the best growth and quality of paspalum plants, it could be recommended to spray with humic acid at 10 ml/l and adding a mixture of amino acids as soil drench at 2 g/pot six times with one month interval

EFFECT OF SOME NATURAL ACTIVATORS ON GROWTH AND QUALITY OF SEASHORE PASPALUM TURF

This investigation was conducted under open field conditions at the Experimental Farm of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2013 and 2014 seasons to find out the response of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) grown in 40-cmdiameter plastic pots filled with about 6 kg of an equal mixture of sand and clay (1:1, v/v) to some natural activators, viz. super blue green (SBG) at 3 ml/l, Ascobien at 1 g/l, BioHorm at 1 ml/l and to some combinations of them when applied as a foliar spray, five times with one month interval. The verdure of control plants was sprayed with the tap water. The results of such investigation have shown that all vegetative growth traits were significantly improved over control in response to either sole or combined treatments applied in this study. Among the individual treatments, BioHorm at 1 ml/l was the best treatment, followed by SBG at 3 ml/l and then 1 ml/l of Ascobien treatment. An excessive improvement was obtained when combining the single treatments, especially combining between the three used activators (SBG at 3 ml/l + Ascobien at 1 g/l + BioHorm at 1 ml/l), as such combination gave the utmost high means of vegetative growth parameters at all in the two seasons. A similar trend to that of vegetative growth was also observed as well regarding the content of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, N, P, K, total soluble sugars and total indoles in the leaves, but the opposite was the right concerning total phenols content which was decreased by the various used treatments to reach the minimum values by the combination of 3 ml/l SBG + 1 g/l Ascobien + 1 ml/l BioHorm in the two seasons. Hence, it is recommended to spray the verdure of seashore paspalum turf with a combination of SBG (3 ml/l) + Ascobien (1 g/l) + BioHorm (1 ml/l), five times with 1 month interval during the growth stage to score the best growth performance and highest quality