Changes in growth, yield, photosynthetic characteristics, enzyme activities and essential oil production of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) under growth regulator treatments

Abstract

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is a high value medicinal and essential oil bearing crop used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries. Keeping the medicinal as well as economic importance of this herb in mind, a pot experiment was carried out under the net house conditions of the Botanical Garden, Fort, AMU, Aligarh. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications. This study was conducted to assess the effects of triacontanol (TRIA) alone and in combination with gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth characteristics, photosynthetic parameters, some other physiological and biochemical attributes, composition and yield of essential oil of fennel. At 30 days after sowing, the plants were sprayed with either TRIA or with different combination of TRIA and GA3. Among the treatments, foliar spray of 10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3 significantly promoted the values for most of the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes as well as for essential oil composition and yield attributes. It was concluded that a combined spray of TRIA and GA3 (10−6 TRIA + 10−6 GA3) might be highly effective for increased productivity and essential oil composition of fennel.