Light Absorption and Carotenoid Synthesis of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) in Response to Phosphorous and Potassium Varying Levels

Alireza Pirzad,Bahman Amanpour-Balaneji,Mohammad Sedghi

doi:10.15835/nsb315463

Alireza Pirzad, Bahman Amanpour-Balaneji + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb315463

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Abstract

In order to provide additional information on the effects of elemental deficiency on factors that affect plant production in medicinal plants, a factorial field experiment as randomized complete block design was conducted on Calendula officinalis. Treatments were four phosphorus levels (P2O5) including 0, 40, 80 and 120 Kg ha-1 and four potassium levels (K2O) as 0, 50, 100 and 150 Kg ha-1. Results showed that applied treatments had significant effects on petal carotenoids and the highest amount of ? - carotene obtained at 80 and 150 Kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O, respectively. Effect of K2O on light interception and light use efficiency was significant and the highest radiation use efficiency achieved by applying 150 Kg ha-1 K2O. The highest yield of grain and dry flowers was recorded in the mixture of 80 and 150 Kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O, respectively. In conclusion, using of K2O had greater effects on studied traits than P2O5.

Highlights

Calendula officinalis, belongs to Asteraceae family, is an annual herb with yellow to orange flowers, native to Mediterranean region (Gazim et al, 2008)
Pot Marigold is cultivated for its flowers with receptacle or flowers without receptacle (Varban et al, 2008) which are used as the medical raw material
Light Interception Efficiency (LIE) Analysis of variance showed that only the simple effect of K2O is significant on LIE as shown in Tab. 2

Summary

Introduction

Calendula officinalis (pot Marigold), belongs to Asteraceae family, is an annual herb with yellow to orange flowers, native to Mediterranean region (Gazim et al, 2008). Few studies examining phosphorus and potassium fertility in pot Marigold have been conducted, but they are not specific to the medicinal use of this plant. Some specific growth factors that have been associated with phosphorus are: stimulated root development, increased stalk and stem strength, improved flower formation and seed production, more uniform and earlier crop maturity, improvements in crop quality, and increased resistance to plant diseases (Taiz and Zeiger, 2003).

Results

Conclusion