Effect of Different Soil Media and Some Growth Regulators on French Marigold Plants B. Flowering Characteristics and Antioxidant Activities

Abstract

During the two experimental seasons of 2016 and 2017, in the Nursery of Ornamental Plants, Fac. Agric., Minia Univ. a pot experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of soil media and specific growth regulators on the flowering characteristics and antioxidant activity (%) of Tagetes patula L. plants. When compared to clay or sandy media used during both seasons, the clay/sandy medium produced more flowers quality and quantity, measured as flower diameter, flower stalk length, number of flowers per plant, and total flower fresh and dried weights. Also, antioxidant activity (%) was increased in the same soil media. Spraying plans with growth regulators [alar at 1500 and 3000 ppm, phloroglucinol Anhydrous (PGA) at 150 and 300 ppm and 4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (4-CPA) at 150 and 300 ppm] significantly increased all previous characters except flower stalk length in both seasons. The growth regulator (PGA at 300 ppm) was superior in this concern. The best combination was growing marigold plants in clay/sand media and spray by PGA at 300 ppm.