Ecophysiological studies on the drought resistance of moringa oleifera (lam)‎.

Abstract EN

A pot trial was conducted at the green house of Desert Research Center during 2001-2002 growing season to study the effect of irrigation intervals (6, 12 and 18 days) and presoaking of seeds with different gibbrellic acid (GA3) concentrations (0, 100 and 200 ppm) on chemical components of Moringa oleifera.

The results indicated that carbohydrates % and protein (mg / 100g d.wt.) in leaves and seeds of Moringa oleifera tended to increase with GA3 seed soaking as well as by prolonging of the irrigation intervals.

Seed soaking in 200 ppm GA3 as well as prolonging irrigation intervals from 6 to 18 days (increasing water deficit) increased all minerals composition.

The 18 days interval treatment recorded the highest mineral values in both leaves and seeds.

The results also revealed that the highest value of either total carbohydrates or total protein in both leaves and seeds was obtained by treatment of 200 ppm GA3 under wider irrigation intervals (18 days).

The highest yield of seed oil was 36.1% (obtained from treatment of 100 ppm GA3 at 18 days).

However the number of fatty acids in seeds of Moringa oleifera after plants exposure to irrigation intervals (6, 12, 18 days) varied between 7 to 11.

The essential unsaturated oleic fatty acid was detected in all treatments with high percentage ranged from 57.2% in the control to 75.5% in treatmeat of 100 ppm GA3 at 18 days.