Effect of Exogenous Application of Boric Acid and Seaweed Extract on Growth, Biochemical Content and Yield of Eggplant

Abstract

There is no adequate literature on the effects of boron (B) and seaweed extract on the physiological responses of eggplant plants as well as yield. In the present study, the field experiment was carried out during the two growing seasons of 2012 and 2013, at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, to study the effect of separate and combined foliar applications of boric acid and seaweed extract at different levels on growth and yield of eggplant Suma hybrid. Seaweed extract was used at four concentrations, 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm. Boric acid was used at three concentrations, 0, 50 and 100 ppm. The results indicated that foliar application with boric acid significantly stimulated many growth aspects as plant height, leaf number, leaf area, haulm fresh and dry weight as compared with the control treatment. Respecting the foliar application of seaweed extract, the obtained data indicated that the foliar application of 1000 and 2000 ppm seaweed extract, generally, increased vegetative growth characteristics. In the two tested seasons, the differences detected for the foliar application of boric acid were insignificant in all leaf chemical components, but responded positively to foliar application of 1000 and 2000 ppm seaweed extract. The highest values of yield were recorded by the foliar application of 1000 and 2000 ppm seaweed extract and boric acid at 50 ppm, but the foliar applications of boric acid individually had an insignificant increase on yield and its components.