Effect of Foliar Applied Benzyladenine and Gibberellic Acid on Vegetative Growth and Chemical ConsTituents of Dracaena marginata. (B) Pinched Plants.

Abstract

The present study was carried-out at Antoniades Research Branch, Horticulture Research Institute, A.R.C. Alexandria, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2013 and 2014. In this study, we aimed to test the effect of applying foliar sprays of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine in increasing the marketing quality of Dracaena marginata plants. Dracaena small plants were planted individually in 30 cm diameter plastic pots. The small plants were pinched to length to 30 cm from soil surface. The plants were sprayed with gibberellic acid at the concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/L and benzyladenine at the concentrations of 200, 250 and 300 mg/L. The obtained results showed that spraying with gibberellic acid at 1000 mg/L and benzyladenine at 300 mg/L together increased significantly plant height, leaves number per plant, leaves dry weight, leaves area, stem diameter, stem dry weight, branches number per plant, root length and root dry weight. The obtained results showed that spraying with gibberellic acid at 1000 mg/L and benzyladenine at 250 mg/L together resulted in the highest chlorophyll content, carbohydrates content and nitrogen percentage in the leaves.