EFFECT OF ZINC AND BORON FOLIAR APPLICATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF SOME SUNFLOWER GENOTYPES ( Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during spring and autumn growing seasons of 2009 to study the effect of foliar application of zinc and boron on growth characters, yield components and quality of some sunflower genotypes (Helianthus annuus L.). The experiment was carried out according to the factorial experiment in a randomized completely block design, consisting of three zinc application (0, 6, 12 mg.L -1 ) and three boron application (0, 4 and 8 mg.L -1 ) with three sunflower genotypes (Myogen, Isaanka and Ginmus). The main findings could be summarized as follows:-Foliar application of zinc to the leaves with concentration 12 mg.L -1 showed a significant increase in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, head diameter, number of seeds head -1 , 1000 seed weight and seed yield.ha -1 , oil percentage, oil, protein yield (ton. ha -1 ), However, protein percent was decreased. Addition of boron sprayed on the plant leaves with concentration 4 mg.L -1 lead to a significant increase in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, head diameter, number of seeds head -1 , 1000 seed weight and seed yield.ha -1 , oil percentage, oil, protein yield (ton.ha -1 ), while increasing concentration of boron to 8 mg.L -1 caused a significant increase in protein percentage in the two seasons'.Results showed that the Isaanka genotype gave a high values for characters stem diameter, leaf area, head diameter, number of seeds. head -1 , 1000 seed weight and seed yield.ha -1 , oil percentage, oil, protein yield (ton.ha -1 ) in both seasons. The triple interaction among Isaanka genotype × foliar application of 12 mg Zn.L -1 × concentration of 4 mg B.L -1 sprayed on the plant leaves, achieved the highest mean for the characteristics of: plant height, stem diameter, number of seeds head -1 , seed yield.ha -1 and oil, protein yield (ton.ha -1 ) for both seasons. In general, it could be concluded that for maximizing total seed and oil yields per unit area may be achieved by planting Isaanka genotype with adding zinc and boron to the leaves plant with concentration 12 Zn and 4 B mg.L -1 under the environmental conditions of this study.

Response of Two Sunflower Cultivars to Foliar Spray by Different Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Concentrations

“…This may be due to that zinc oxide nanoparticles increase the zinc absorption via sunflower plants and consequently increased photosynthesis process which led to an increment in metabolic translocation from sources to seeds. These findings are in a good line with those obtained by Praksh and Halaswamy (2004), Gitte et al (2005), Babaeian et al 2011and Al-Doori (2013).…”

“…Plants of Sakha-53 were superior significantly than Giza-102 in all studied traits number of seeds/head, seed index, seed yield/plant, oil percentage as well as seed and oil yields/Feddan. (El-Aref et al, 2011;Al-Doori and Al-Dulaimy, 2012;Al-Doori, 2013;Abd El-Satar et al, 2017. Also, Nasim et al, 2017.…”

“…Sunflowers do not require as much applied fertilizer as cereals. Sunflowers have an extensive root system which may help in utilizing residual soil nutrients (Al-Doori, 2013).…”

“…(Tor-abian and Khoshgoftar, 2016). Praksh and Halaswamy (2004) and Al-Doori (2013) revealed that the addition of zinc sprayed on the sunflower plants leaves led to a significant increase in characteristics number of seeds head -1 , weight of thousand seed, seed yield, seed oil content and seed oil yield in the two growing seasons.…”

Effect of Nutrient Mixture and Potassium Levels Applied as Spray or to Soil on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)Yield and its Components

“…That might be attributed to synergetistic effect of both potassium and nutrients mixture on carbohydrates metabolism, formation and translocation of photosynthates towards seeds resulting in more filled seeds (source/ sink efficiency) as reported by Al-Taher et al (2013). Al-Doori (2014), also reported that zinc as micronutrient has a vital role in the activity of growth enzymes, which lead to increase in the biological processes and this in turn increase yield components.…”