Author/Authors :
Tavakoli, Maral MSc. Graduated - Department of Horticulture - Faculty of Agriculture - Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch - Islamic Azad University - Isfahan, Iran , Asadi-Gharneh, Hossein Ali Assistant Professor - Department of Horticulture - Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch - Islamic Azad University - Isfahan, Iran
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: Biofertilizers, like amino acids, are used to reduce drought stress damage
to plants and improve physiological factors, thereby increasing plant yield in arid and
semi-arid regions. Seaweed extract has a beneficial effect on plant growth due to its growth
hormones and elements such as iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese and
nickel, vitamins and amino acids.
OBJECTIVES: Current research was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application
of seaweed and amino acids and their interaction on the morphophysiological characteristics
of cut flowers of Gerbera cultivar Stanza and determine the relationship between
the use of these two substances on the quantity and quality of morphological and physiological
characteristics of this plant.
METHODS: This study was done via factorial experiment based on completely randomized
design with three replications along 2015 year. The treatments included amino acids
(A1: Control, A2: 1, A3: 1.5 and A4: 2 gr.L-1) and seaweed extract (S1: Control, S2: 0.25, S3:
0.5 and S4: 1 gr.L-1).
RESULT: According to the results of the present study, it can be said that amino acid
treatment at concentrations of 1.5 and 2 gr.L-1, as a suitable pre-harvest treatment, has the
highest production in amount of flower diameter, flowering stem diameter, flowering stem
length, anthocyanin, chlorophyll b, carotenoids and leaf greenness. Seaweed extract treatment
at concentrations of 0.25 and 1 gr.L-1, as a suitable pre-harvest treatment, had the
highest amount of flower diameter, flowering stem diameter, anthocyanin, chlorophyll b,
total chlorophyll, carotenoids and leaf greenness.
CONCLUSION: Also, the simultaneous use of 2 gr.L-1 amino acid along with 1 gr.L-1
seaweed extract, had the highest amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll,
carotenoids and leaf greenness and it can be advised to producers. In general, the results of
this study indicate that seaweed and amino acid biofertilizers can improve the quantity,
quality and post-harvest life of gerbera flowers by increasing nutrient uptake and the presence
of plant hormones.
Keywords :
Anthocyanin , Biofertilizer , Carotenoid , Chlorophyll , Morphology
