The Influence Of Priming Two Cucumber Cultivar Seeds

J. Duhok Univ. Vol.13, No.1, (Agri. And Vet. Sciences) Pp 171-175, 2010
EFFECT OF SPRAYING WITH MOLYBDENUM AND IRON ON THE
GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF Nigella damascene L.
YOUSIF H. HAMMO and BALKIES G. SAHI
* Dept. of Horticulture ,College of Agriculture, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
(Received: November 4, 2010; Accepted for publication: February 27, 2010)
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted in Agricultural College/ Dohuk University during 2007 and 2008 growing season. To
test the effects of Fe fertilizer at (0, 100, 200, 300) mg.l -1 sprayed twice, the first was on 1/2/2008 and the second was
one month later, and Mo at (0, 100, 200) mg.l -1 after one week interval with Fe on vegetative and seed yield of Nigella
damascene L. Results showed that spray with 100 mg. l -1 of Mo was superior over other treatments in 100 seed weight
8.51%more than control, the highest fruits number and seed yield per plant were accompanied with 200 mg l -1 of Mo
(37.75, 38.20)% for the two characteristics respectively, Also 100 and 200 mg.l -1 of Fe has significantly effects in fruits
number, seeds yield per plant, and the highest percentage arrive (31.76, 35.14)% than control for the two levels
respectively, The dual interaction between the Mo and Fe show significantly effects on all the characteristics, the
highest number of fruit per plant was obtained from plants that sprayed with 200 mg.l -1 for Mo and 200 mg.l -1 of Fe,
and the highest seeds weight per plant arrive 107.47% more than control for plant that spray with 200 mg.l -1 of Mo
and 100 mg.l -1 Fe .
KEYWORDS: Mo, Fe, seed yield, Nigella damascene.
T
INTRODUCTION
he genus Nigella (Ranunculaceae
family) consists of about 20 species,
three of which Nigella glandulifera, Nigella
sativa and Nigella damascena L. N. damascena,
like N. sativa, is traditionally used as a
condiment and healing herb in southern Europe
and the Near East, but has never grown in the
wild in central Europe. (Heiss and Oeggl, 2005).
Their seeds, commonly added in many food
preparations, possess diuretic, analgesic,
spasmolytic, galactagogue and bronchodilator
effects and have been used for a long time in the
treatment of urinary calculus and bronchial
asthma. Flavones glycosides, triterpenoids and
alkaloids are the main constituents in the Nigella
genus (Tian et al, 2006). Love - in - amist
(Nigella damascena L.) is an annual herbaceous
plant, seeds are usually inexpensive and easy to
germinate, direct seeding - lower costs,
staggered seeding, multiple plantings possible,
weeding and, low market price on species
commonly found in home gardens harvesting are
labor intensive (Koch, 1996). Delicate flowers
for fresh use; allow surplus production to set
fruit for sale as fresh material, further surplus
fruit may be used in dried form (Stevens, 1992).
Micronutrients are necessary for plant growth,
too little or too much will reduce plant yield as
much as a lack of nitrogen (Malhi & Leach,
2000). Plants need a continual supply of Fe
because its deficiency is the most common
micronutrient especially in areas of low rainfall
and in alkaline soils (pH above 7.0) Harris
(1992), and for its inability to translocation from
older to newer leaves, it is essential for
chlorophyll and the reactions of photosynthesis
(Huber, 1980). With some susceptible plants the
newer leaves lose all of their capacity to produce
chlorophyll and the leaf turns black and dies
(Tindall et al, 1996). Bishr et al (1998) found
that spray Nigella sativa with 50 mg.l -1
microelements (Zn, Mn, and Fe) increase plant
high, branch number, plant dry weight
significantly when compared with control. Mo is
also required in very small quantities in plants it
is less available at low pH and its deficiency
commonly occurs in soils that severely lack
phosphorus and sulfur (Harris, 1992). Nitrogen
metabolism, protein synthesis and sulfur
metabolism are also affected by Mo which has a
significant effect on pollen formation, so fruit
and grain formation are affected in Mo deficient
plants. And the plants did not get enough Mo
had a strong positive effect. (Whitcomb, 1987;
Laaniste et al, 2004). Deficiencies of
micronutrients as Mo could reduce the oilseed
yield (Hocking et al, 1999). The objective of the
present study was to clarify the influence of
micronutrient (Fe, Mo) on seed yield and growth
characteristics of Nigella damascene.
171