Effects of foliage boron-spraying on seed yields and fatty acid composition of tree peony (Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’)

Abstract

The influence of the foliage boron(B)-spaying concentration on the yield and fatty acid composition of tree peony (Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’) was explored in the experiment of 2014-2015. In this research, a statistically significant correlation was found between the mass concentration of foliage boron- spraying and tree peony seed yield. Maximum yield increment of tree peony seeds was obtained when the boron-spraying concentration was 4 g/L. The composition of fatty acid was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the main components of the fatty acid composition were quantified by internal standard method. The increase in the oil extraction rate after foliage boron-spraying nutrition of different concentration was significant and ranged between 0.04% and 11.43%. Seed oil production and oil extraction rate were also increased due to the increase of seed yields. Furthermore, foliage boron-spraying had a significant effect on the content of linolenic acid and linoleic acid in seed oil.