EFFECT OF SALT STRESS LEVEL ON FRENCH MARIGOLD (TAGETES PATULA) AND ITS RESPONSE TO ADDITION OF SELENIUM AND SILICON

Abstract

This study was conducted in the vicinity of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shobra El-Kheima, Egypt and in the greenhouses of the Ministry of Agriculture, El Dokki, Giza in the two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015. The aim of this research investigation was to study the effect of saline water levels (SWLs) on two cultivars of French Marigold (Tagetes patula), namely ‘Cat eye’ and ‘Nano bronzato’ and their responses to selenium (Se) and silicon (Si) foliar-spray (FS) applications. Seedlings which were raised initially from certified seeds of the two cultivars were pricked out to one seedling per pot (25 cm plastic pots) filled beforehand with a medium mixture of sand and peat moss (2:1 by volume). Three SWLs 3, 6 and 9 dS m-1 were made up by dissolving NaCl and CaCl2 (v/v 2:1) in addition to a tap-water control. All four SWLs treatments were used to irrigate the plants. Irrigation was managed frequently as required. FS application of Se at 5 and 10 µmol and silicon (Si) at 500 and 1000 ppm were applied to plants after two weeks from commencement of SWLs implementation. In addition, two controls were initiated, i.e. non-sprayed (NS) plants and water-sprayed (WS) plants. The experiment layout for each cultivar was arranged in a complete randomized design with three replicates for each treatment in each replicate five plants were designated. 6.2. Sum Up of Experimental Results For the sake of convenience and as a rather simple way to display the most relevant result outcomes, data of results were calibrated as percentages (%). This procedure was carried out in each of the growth parameters investigated including internal chemical traits too. Percentages were referenced against the tap-water control when mentioning impact of SWLs. When FS application was referred to, percentages were tabulated against the NS