USING MORINGA LEAF EXTRACT AS BIOSTIMULANT AND GIBERRELLIC ACID FOR ENHANCING FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum Mill.) GROWTH AND OIL YIELD

Abstract

The field work was carried out at the experimental farm "Demo" in faculty of
Agriculture, Fayoum university, during two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and
2014/2015. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Giberrellic acid (GA3)
and Moringa leaf aqueous extract (MLe) as individual and interaction on the growth,
seed (fruit) yield, oil production and its main components and chemical constituents
of Fennel plants. The results showed that spraying fennel plants at 150ppm (GA3)
plus 20% of (MLe) gave the highest vegetative growth attributes; plant height,
branches number plant-1 and fresh and dry weight plant-1. Using 50 ppm of GA3 along
with 10% of MLe concentration recorded the highest fruit yield plant-1, fruit yield
feddan-1, oil yield plant-1 and feddan-1, also the highest percentages of oil
constituents; α-Pinene, Limonene, Eucalyptol, Fenchone and trans-Anethole but it
gave the lowest content of Estragole, (which is undesirable component), compared to
other treatments. While, the foliar application of 50ppm with 30% of MLe
concentration has resulted in the highest values in terms of number of umbels plant-1
and root length. The highest content of chlorophyll (a), (b) and carotenoids has been
given from the interaction between 150ppm (GA3) with 30% of (MLe) concentrations.
The highest contents of total carbohydrates percentage and the greatest essential oil
percentage plant-1 were obtained from the moderate concentration of GA3, (100ppm)
combined with 20% of MLe.
Hence, it can be recommended that for obtaining higher fruit yield plant-1 and
feddan-1 and oil yield plant-1 and feddan-1, Fennel plants should be sprayed with
50ppm of GA3 plus 10% of MLe concentration.