Investigating the morphological and biochemical reactions of two species of chicory (Cichorium sp.) in the application of different amounts of ammonium sulfate

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Horticultural Science, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran

2 Former MSc student of Horticultural Science, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Horticultural Science, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Chicory is one of the perennial and important medicinal plants of the Asteraceae family. In addition to having many nutritious compounds, chicory is potentially a rich source of bioactive substances for strengthening human food due to its polyphenol compounds (Petropoulos et al., 2017). Nitrogen is one of the most important elements required by plants, which participates in various processes, and its deficiency or excess significantly affects the growth, yield and quality of products (Yaghoobi et al., 2018). Due to the high importance of nutrition in the performance and quality of the active substances of medicinal plants and the fact that so far a little research has been done in chicory plant; Also, since ammonium sulfate is an acid-forming fertilizer suitable for the alkaline soils of southern Iran and causes better absorption of other nutrients; therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of the effect of different levels of ammonium sulfate on the growth indexes and some biochemical factors of two species of chicory (Cichorium intybus and Cichorium pumilum) in Jahrom climatic conditions.
Material and methods: In this research, the effect of different amount of ammonium sulfate on growth and yield traits, chlorophyll contents and some biochemical properties of two Cichorium species were studied. In this purpose, the experience was conducted on factorial based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and three replications. The first factor, ammonium sulfate concentration includes 5 levels: 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/h and control (soil without fertilizer) and the second factor, two Cichorium species including C. intybus and C. pumilum. The most important factors inclusive leaf number, leaf length and width, plant fresh weight, yield of dry matter, length and diameter of tuberous root, fresh weight and dry weight of root and chlorophyll contents (a, b, total and carotenoid). Also, biochemical properties of leaf extract (flavone and flavonol, total flavonoid, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) were measured at two times (middle and end of growth period).
Results and discussion: The results showed the significant effect of the treatments on some measured traits. In relation to most of the morphological factors and yield indicators in C. pumilum, the best result was obtained in the 150 kg of ammonium sulfate treatment, while in C. intybus, the application of 100 kg of ammonium sulfate had a greater effect, which showed that C. pumilum has more fertilizer tolerance properties than C. intybus species. In C. pumilum, the highest amount of flavone and flavonol (2.93 mg/g), total flavonoid (7.30 mg/g) and phenolic compounds (10.06 mg/g) in the 50 kg of ammonium sulfate treatment was observed in the second harvest while in relation to C. intybus species, the maximum amount of total flavonoids (12.14 mg/g) and phenolic compounds (13.67 mg/g) in the first harvest by usage of 100 kg of ammonium sulfate and in the second harvest in the 200 kg of ammonium sulfate treatment (7.14 and 10.26 mg/g respectively) were measured. Previous findings showed that in some plants, including Ocimum basilicum (Radusiene et al., 2019) and Stevia rebaudiana (Barroso et al., 2018), the high availability of nutrient elements leads to an increase in plant growth and development and a decrease in secondary metabolites production. While in some other plants such as Marrubium vulgare (Kheiry et al., 2020), Cicorium sp. and Artemisia annua (Jha et al., 2011) by increasing the amount of fertilizer, an increase in active substances has been observed.
Conclusions: In totally, application of 100-150 kg/h Amuniom sulphate fertilizer for Chicory species recommends.

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Main Subjects

References

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