Nfluence of foliar application of Fe, Zn, Mo and lithovit on growth and productivity of stevia plant (stevia rebaudiana, bert.)‎

Abstract EN

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of foliar spraying of some micronutrients (Fe + Zn + Mo at 0+0+0, 0.25+0.15+1.5 and 0.50+0.30+3 g/l, respectively), lithovit (foliar fertilizer enhance plant photosynthesis by releasing CO2 in leaf stomata, at 0, 2, 4 and 6 g/l) and their interactions on growth and productivity of stevia plant.

The experiment was performed as a splitplot in complete randomized block design with three replicates during 2015 and 2016 seasons in the Expt.

Farm, Dept.

Botany, Fac.

Sci., Benha Univ., Egypt.

The obtained results cleared that micronutrients of Fe + Zn + Mo at 0.50 + 0.30 + 3 g/l, respectively increased growth parameters (plant height, number of branches and leaves/plant and dry weight of leaves/plant), yield components (total dry leaves and herb yield/faddan), chemical constituents (reducing and non reducing sugars and total chlorophyll content in leaves) and active ingredients (stevioside and rebaudioside glycosides in leaves).

Moreover, the highest values of these parameters were registered by foliar spray of lithovit at 4 or 6g/l without significant differences between them in the 2nd cut.

Two compounds of glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana plant were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The main component was stevioside which followed by rebaudioside.

Generally, spraying Stevia rebaudiana plant three times per season with lithovit at 4 g/l plus Fe + Zn + Mo at 0.50, 0.30, 3 g/l, respectively enhance plant growth, yield and chemical constituents as well as active ingredients.