EFFECT OF NANOMETERIC CARBON AND ZINC PARTICLES APPLICATION ON LEAF MINERAL CONTENT, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF FLAME SEEDLESS GRAPES

Abstract

The present study was carried out during two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015 on Flame seedless grapes (VitisviniferaL.). Grapevines were about 5 years old and trained bybilateral horizontal cordon system and planted at 1.5×3.5 meter apart under flood irrigation system on loamy soil in a private orchard, atsammannod region,Gharbiya Governorate, Egypt. This investigation included two independent experiments as follows: The first experiment:Effect of nano carbon and nitrogen fertilization rates on growth, leaf mineral content, yield and fruit quality of Flame seedless grape. Grapevines received normal cultural practices as well as soil fertilized with the recommended N fertilization level (50gN / vine / year) in both organic and mineral forms (control). Theused nitrogen form was ammonium sulphate. Three rates of nitrogen fertilization (80%, 60% and 40%) from the recommended level combined with three rates of multi walled carbon nano tubes(MWCNTs) (0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%) from the nitrogen amount in each rate. MWCNTs were purchased from Sigma Aldrich; its diameter is 110-170 nm, length: 5-9 micron.