Effect of some natural extracts on growth and flowering of Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis plant

Abstract

An experiment was undertaken at the nursery of Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Centre, Giza, Egypt during 2018 and 2019 seasons to examine the effect of moringa, thyme and marjoram natural leaf extracts on growth and flowering of Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis transplants when applied as foliar spray at concentrations of 0, 1.25 and 2.5% for each, twice every month, individually or in combination during the growing season. The results showed that all treatments caused significant increments in the means of plant height, stem diameter, number of branches and leaves/plant, leaf area, main root length and thickness, as well as number of leaves, stem and fresh and dry weights of roots with few exceptions in the two seasons. However, some treatments gave better results in some characters than others and vice-versa, but the dominance was for moringa + marjoram extracts combined treatment at 1.25% rate for each. Increasing the rate of application from 1.25% to 2.5% induced an additional improvement in some traits. A similar response also occurred regarding flowering traits and concentration of some constituents determined in the leaves. Accordingly, it can be advised to spray the foliage of Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis plants with moringa and marjoram leaf extracts in combination at 1.25% rate for each during the growing season, once every 15 days to obtain clean and safe product with better growth and flowering performance.