EFFECT OF SOME AMINO ACIDS, TRACE ELEMENTS AND IRRADIATION ON FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Thirm'!stigation in this Thesis w:ts conducted in 199811999 and 1999 •:ooo st:asons in Om Hor1. Dept. F:.1..:. Agnc.. Cairo Cniv. to study the dt'ccts of tryptophan. mt:thionint: and trac<: <:kments application a:; \\'t:!l as irradiation on plant gTO\\th. oil and chemical constituents of feiUld r.r:oemcuiwn vuigare L) plants. in two separated experiments. E:-.:p. I : Amino acids and trace elements, tryptophan at (100 and 200 ppm) and methionine at (50 and 100 ppm ), mi:\1ure of Fe. Zn and }...In at two concentrations (75 and 150 ppm of each) were sprayed on the plants grov.n in the field in three times individually or in combinations. Data on grov.th characters. oil (% and constituents %) as well as herb chemical constituents were detennined and statistically anal -zed. a- Effect of a.mi.no acids : Gro\\th parameters such as plant height. number of branches. length of roots. fresh weight of both aboveground parts. roots and fruit umbels increased in the two seasons by both tryptophan and methionine at 100 ppm. High concentration of tryptophan (200 ppm) was the most effectiYe on fresh wetght of umbels. • Oil percentage was incr.::ased by both tryptophan and methionine treatments in the two seasons. 100 ppm • tryptoph;m resulted in the highest percentag..:. - A.nethole 0-o increased by tryptophan.. and decreas.::d by methionine. Limonen<:! 0'o show<:!d different trends: it was increased by m<:!thionine esp<:!cially at 100 ppm. and d.::creased by tryptophan .. Fenchoneo was increas.::d by the treatments as m<:thionine at 100 ppm gave the highest valu.: - Plant ptgments {chlorophyll a. b :md carotenoids) and indoles contents. were generall:-• incrca -::d in !.he l\\"O seasons b\• amino acidtreatment. Th mOst eft ctiY con.: ntration \•aried according to th ch mi-.:al constituo:.:lll and Sl:' lson Tryptophan at 100 ppm was mar dfectiv on chlorophylls. carotenoids. indoles and m:mg;m<: <: \-1<:3!1\\hih::. 200 ppm (of the same :J.mino acids) \\"lS mordf .::tive on zin.:: and ferrous in th<: two seasons b- Etlect oftmcc clements: .., Gr0\\1h par.: meters <!xc pt l ngth of roots w<:r<:! increased by tract: dements (F.::. Zn and l\ln) at th<: two rates (150 ppm each) in the two sea. ons. The increase was significant in most cas s. 75 ppm was more dfecti\•e on the plant organs w ight. while \50 ppm was more effectiv.:: on the plant height. branches and umbels number. Similar positive effect towards chloropbylls, indoles. protein, Fe. Zn and Mn values was found and 75 ppm was more .::ffective in most cases. Also. oil percentage. t-anetho\e and carene % components were increased. while methyl chavicoL fenchone. limonen<: tended to decrease esp.::cially with 150 ppm. c- Effect of amino acids and trace elements interaction : Th.:: different combinations of tryptophan. methionine and trace elementincrea. ed plant growth param<:ter.::xcept roots fresh w.::ight in sam<: cas.::s. Tr;>ptophan at 200 ppm and trace dements at !50 ppm m.:v b.:: r.::conunended to rais.:: plant height. both number and w.::ight of umbels and roots fresh weight. \\.hile. ri1ethionine 50 ppm plus trace dements at 150 ppm may b.:: r.::Conm1.::nd.::d to increa.s.:: branchmg. fr<!sh weight of aboveground plant parts and roots. Tr::ptophan at 100 ppm with 75 ppm ga\•,:: th<: highest oil 0 •0 ..C.. similar efl ct \\:as recorded for methionine at 50 ppm and traces at 75 ppm in the first s ason. A.n.::thole when the highest was record d tOr tryptophan at 100 ppm and !50 ppm for traces. A...lso. tryptophan at 100 ppm with !50 ppm trace dements ga\•.:: the high.::st chlorophyll a. c.1rotenoid. indoles. Fe. Zn :md :-.-In in most cases. \\"bile methionine at l 00 ppm with !50 ppm tr.1co::s gave the high .!sl protein and chlorophyll b.