Effect of Nickel in the Irrigation Water and Foliar Applied Malic Acid on Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Chemical Composition of Salvia splendens Plant

Abstract

The present study was carried-out at Antoniadis Research Branch, Horticultural Research Institute, A.R.C.Alexandria, Egypt during the two successive seasons 2016 and 2017. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects ofirrigation water contaminated with nickel on Salvia splendens plants grown in sandy soil. The possibility of using malicacid spray treatments to overcome the effects of nickel pollution. Seedlings of Salvia splendens were planted individuallyin plastic pots (20 cm diameter) filled with 3 kg of sandy soil. Four concentrations of nickel 0,100, 200 and 300 ppm wereapplied in the irrigation water. The plants were treated with malic acid at concentrations of 0, 250 and 500 ppm bymonthly spraying in both seasons.The results showed that for vegetative and flowering growth parameters, there was no significant interaction betweennickel concentrations and foliar spray by malic acid, while a significant reduction was observed in all parameters afterirrigation with contaminated water contained nickel and a significant increase in vegetative and flowering growthparameters was observed after 500 ppm malic acid application. For chlorophyll and carbohydrate content the highestsignificant value was obtained from plants irrigated with tap water and sprayed with 500 ppm malic acid while the highestsignificant nickel content in leaves, stem and roots was obtained in the treatment 300 ppm without application of malicacid.