Improving Growth, Top Root Yield and Betanin Pigment of Table Beet as a Result of Spraying with Magnesium, Copper and Boron under El-Arish Region

Abstract

Growth of table beet plant cv. Detroit Suprence, yield, betanin content and TSS in root top were studied due to application of Mg (0.75%, 1.5 %), Cu (15, 30 ppm), and B (30, 60 ppm) as foliar spray through two field experiments were carried out during the winter seasons of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 at The Experimental Farm of Environ. Agric. Sci. Fac., Arish Univ., North Sinai. The results revealed that higher relative increment in leaf area was achieved by application of Mg at 1.5 % as foliar spray which increased by 90.6 % and 73.0 % in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively in comparison with control. Total fresh weight of plant was increased with application of B at 60 ppm in both seasons with relative increments of 47.55% and 43.65 % over the control treatment in 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. Higher total dry weight per plant was recorded with foliar application of B at 30 ppm in the 1st season, Cu at 15 ppm and B at 60 ppm in the 2nd season. The relative increments in dry weight of plant were 43.45 %, 39.95 %, and 39.10 % over the control for spraying with B at 30 ppm in the 1st season, Cu at 15 ppm and B at 60 ppm in the 2nd season, respectively. Spraying with Cu at 15 ppm and Mg at both concentrations (0.75, 1.5%) achieved the highest contents of chl. a, b and chl. a+b compared to the control treatment. The highest relative yield/fed. was recorded with application of B at a concentration of 60 ppm where it was increased by 38.7 and 42.4% , in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively over the control. The content of betanin pigment in cortex increased as a result of spraying with Mg (1.5 %), B (30, 6. Ppm) and Cu (15 ppm), while it increased in core zone due to spray with Mg (0.75 %), Cu (15 ppm) and B(60 ppm) particularly in the 2nd season. The concentration of the pigment in the core zone was lower than in the cortex zone.