Effect of Spraying of Beta Carotene on Growth Behaviour and Chemical Constituents of Acalypha wilkesiana Plants
A. M. Sami *
Department of Ornamental Plant and Woody Trees, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
H. A. Bedour
Department of Water Relation and Field Irrigation, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
M. T. Nermeen
Department of Ornamental Plant and Woody Trees, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
L. M. Sharbat
Department of Water Relation and Field Irrigation, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
A.H. Ibrhim
Department of Ornamental Plant and Woody Trees, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In July 2020 and 2021, a pot experiment was carried out in a greenhouse of National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt to evaluate the effect of Beta-Carotene (0,150, 200 and 250 ppm) spraying on growth and chemical constituents of Acalypha plants. The present study shows a considerable difference in the growth parameters when treated with Beta- Carotene in two sprays, in four concentrations of (0,150, 200 and 250 ppm) with the control plants. Beta carotene showed unsignificant increase effect for all growth parameters except fresh weight of plant. The highest values for plant height, branches number, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of plant, were obtained due to the use of beta carotene sprayed (150, 250, 0, 250 and 250 ppm), respectively. Also, the spraying beta carotene increased total chlorophyll, protein, carotenoids, K% and N % by 150 and 200 ppm respectively, while sprayed by beta carotene (250 ppm) gave the highest values of carbohydrate and anthocyanin percentagecompared with the control. The aim of this work is known toeffect of beta carotene on growth and chemical compounds in this plant.
Keywords: Acalypha, growth stimulant, beta carotene, ornamental plants