EFFECT OF SOME GROWTH SUBSTANCES AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MATTHIOLA INCANA L. PLANT

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during two successive seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 in Floriculture farm of Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University to study the effects of spraying some growth substances o f kinetin, Salicylic acid, Calcium Thiosulfate and potassium Silicate as well as, chemical fertilization (N.P.K) on vegetative growth and chemical composition of Matthiola incana plants to increase and improve the quality of this plant to bed gardens ornamentation. Obtained results showed that the tallest plants and the thickest plant stem were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin combined with NPK fertilization at the high level treatment in both seasons. The heaviest fresh and dry weights of leaves/ plant were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin-sprayed plants enriched with NPK fertilization at the high in both seasons. The highest number of branches and leaves / plant were recorded by 100 ppm kinetin-sprayed plants combined with NP K fertilization at the high level in both seasons. The highest leaf N and total carbohydrates content were recorded by 100 ppm kinetinsprayed plants provided with NPK fertilization at the high level, whereas the richest leaf P content was registered by 200 ppm salicylic-sprayed plants combined with NPK fertilization at the high level. While, the greatest leaf K content was scored by 6 cm potassium silicate-sprayed plants supplemented with NP K fertilization at the high level in both seasons. Conclusively, spraying Matthiola incann plants with kinetin at 100 ppm and fertilized them with chemical fertilizer at 100N: 200P; 200K kg/fed. produc