ENHANCEMENT THE CHARACTERS OF CALENDULA PLANT GROWN UNDER SALINE AND NON SALINE CONDITIONS BY USING GROWTH STIMULANTS

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out; field experiment at the Agricultural Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo Univ., Giza, during two winter successive seasons; 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to study the effect of growth stimulants on the growth characters of Calendula officinalis plants, and pot experiment at the nursery of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo Univ., Giza, during the two seasons; 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to study the effect of growth stimulants on the growth characters of Calendula plants under different salinity levels. 1. Field experiment Vegetative characters a. Regarding the effect of yeast extract, 2 and 4 g/l concentrations increased significantly all studied vegetative characters i.e., plant height, stem diameter, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area and shoot fresh and dry weight of Calendula plant in both seasons. The maximum increment in all studied characters was achieved in the plants treated by yeast extract at 4 g/l concentration. The 8 g/l concentration caused insignificant enhancement in most characters. Yeast extract at 12 g/l reduced all the previous traits. b. Spraying Calendula plants with 0.5 and 2 cm3/l of seaweed extract caused insignificant enhancement of the studied vegetative parameters. The maximum significant increments were obtained with the application of seaweed extract at 1 cm3/l.