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1472 Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011
ISSN 1819-544X
This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed
ORIGINAL ARTICLES Growth, Flowering and Chemical Constituents Performence of Amaranthus tricolor
Plants As Influenced By Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) Extract Application Under
Salt Stress Conditions
1
Nahed G. Abdel Aziz, 1Mona H. Mahgoub and 2Hanan S. Siam
1
Ornamental Plants and Woody Trees Department, 2Plant Nutriation Department, National Research Centre,
Dokki, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
A pot experiment was conducted at the green house of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt to
study the effect of spraying seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum nodosum) at the rates of 0, 2.5 and 3.0 cm3/L on
growth, flowering and chemical constituents of Amaranthus tricolor plant under 4 levels of saline water (0,
1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm). The results indicated that irrigation the plants with saline water at 1000ppm
significantly increased the growth parameters (length and diameter of stem, root length, but the other levels of
salinity caused a significant decreases in all growth parameters. Irrigated plants with saline water at 2000 and
3000 ppm decreased the percentages of N, P, K and total carbohydrates, but increased the Na and proline
contents. Spraying the plants irrigated with saline water with seaweed extract alleviated the salt stress on
Amaranthus plants and increased the growth parameters (length and diameter of stem, root length, number of
leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves, stems and roots). Irrigated plants with 1000ppm saline water and
spraying with 2.5 cm3/L seaweed extracts gave the highest values of stalk length of inflorescences, length and
number of inflorescences, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences. It can be concluded that seaweed extracts
application enhance plant tolerance against salinity, where our results indicated that application of seaweed
extracts at 2.5 and 3.0 cm3/L and saline water at 1000 ppm had a favorable effect on vegetative growth,
flowering and chemicals constituents of Amaranthus tricolor plants.
Key words: Seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum nodosum), salinity, growth, flowering, chemicals constituents.
Introduction
Amaranthus spp. plants used as a vegetable and for its grain. The leaves are rich in protein, vitamins and
minerals (Allemann et al., 1996). Its ability to adapt to diverse growing conditions such as low nutrient soils and
a wide range of temperature and irradiation, as well as its tolerance to drought stress, emphasize the possible use
of this species as a nutritious green crop in semi-arid regions ( Myers, 1996) Amaranths plants are belong to the
genus Amaranthus and family Amaranthaceae. There are approximately 60 species, all are annuals with small
seeds (approximately 0.07 grams per 100 seeds). The cultivated forms are useful for producing nutritious grain
and foliage, and as colorful ornamentals (Brenner et al., 2000). The plants are tolerant to heat and drought stress.
Amaranths plants as ornamental plants are very colorful. They can have markling or solid coloring of pink
to dark purple-red, or orange, green, or white. The inflorescence can be drooping rope-like. Erect, or
inconspicuous in the leaf axils.
Salinity is an agricultural problem that decreases or restricts crop production in many areas. As concern
about limited water resources continue to increase due to rapid expanding populations, there will be a greater
need to use poor quality water in irrigation the economic crops. The increase in the use of saline water for
irrigation poses a potential hazard to the quality of agricultural soils. Appropriate management options are
required to prevent and/ or relieve salinity problems in crop production (Shalhevet, 1994). Ornamental plants are
classified depending on their tolerance to salinity (Mazhar et al., 2007). It inhibits the photosynthesis of plants,
causes changes in chlorophyll contents and components and damage of photosynthetic apparatus (Lyengar and
Reddy, 1996).
It also inhibits the photochemical activities and decreases the activities of enzymes in the Calvin cycle
(Sairam and Tyagi, 2004). Small changes in salt concentration are sufficient to suppress physiological changes
with different direct and indirect effects (Shannon et al., 1994). Sodium chloride stress negatively influenced
nitrate reductase activity of plants (Tabatabaei, 2006). Accumulation of organic solutes under saline conditions
is an adaptive response of plants against osmotic stress (Tejera et al., 2004). Roussos and Pontikis (2003) on
Simmondsia chinensis, Omami and Hammes (2005) on Amaranthus genotypes, Azza et al., (2006) on Sesbaina
aegyptiaca, Nahed et al., (2006)on Khaya senegalensis ,Kandil and Elewa (2008) on Ammi majus L. plant,
Zapryanova and Atanassova (2009) on tagetes and ageratum plants, and Nahed et al., (2011) on Matthiola
incana reported that salinity caused reduction in seedlings height, stem diameter, number of leaves/plant, fresh
Corresponding Author: Nahed G. Abdel Aziz, Ornamental Plants and Woody Trees Department, Plant Nutriation
Department, Dokki, Egypt.
1473
J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 and dry weights of stems, leaves and roots of the ornamental plants studied. This reduction increased by
increasing salinity levels. Abd El-Fattah (2001) on Adhatoda , Hibiscus and Phyllanthus shrubs and Azza et al.,
(2006) on Sesbania aegyptiaca found that saline water decreased the various chemical constituents such as N, P,
K and soluble and non sugar percentage but increased Na percentage. Talaat (2003) on sweet pepper, Azza et
al (2006)on Sesbania aegyptiaca and Nahed et al., (2006) on Khaya senegalensis stated that proline gradually
increased by increasing salinity levels.
Today, seaweed meals and soil amendments are available in ready-to-apply dry form for use in crop soils
and home gardens alike. Moreover, high quality liquid and powder seaweed extract products for use in foliar or
soil applications can be found in pure form, or in recipe formulations with or without other added ingredients
ranging from traditional (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) to nontraditional products (e.g. humates, fish
hydrolysates, etc.). Due to its natural abundance and history, Ascophyllum nodosum extracts are arguably the
most widely used and researched seaweed species in agriculture (Senn, 1987). Natural growth substances
contained in various seaweeds and their extracts have been shown to enhance plant growth and stress tolerance.
The most widely investigated seaweed is Ascophyllum nodosum. The mode of action of seaweed extract on plant
growth and stress tolerance is not well understood. Firstly, it was thought that seaweed effects could be
explained by their mineral content. However, since low rates of seaweed extract are usually applied, growth
improvement cannot be entirely explained based on mineral content. On the other hand, it was suggested that
hormonal content of seaweed extract, mainly cytokines, were sufficient to produce biological changes in plants.
Most research with seaweeds and extracts from seaweed has been in the area of horticultural crops and turf
grasses. Recent studies have shown the presence of auxins in seaweed concentrates (Sanderson and Jameson,
1986; and Crouch et al., 1993). Therefore, the aim of this investigation is to study the influence of Ascophyllum
nodosum application on growth, flowering and chemical constituents of Amaranthus tricolor plants under salt
stressed condition.
Materials And Methods
A pot experiments were carried out at the greenhouse of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
during 2009 and 2010 seasons to investigate the influence of saline irrigation water and seaweed extracts
application on growth, flowering and chemical constituents of Amarnthuas tricolor L. plants. The experiment
included 12 treatments which were the combination of four salinity treatments i.e. 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm
sodium chloride and seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, Acadian Sea plants Limited, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia,
Canada) extract levels ( 0, 2.5 and 3.0 cm3/L ). The expermentail soil characterized by sand 55.8%, silt 4.4, clay
39.8 with pH 7.80, EC 0.76 dSm-1, CaCO3 2.3%, OM 1.57%, Ca 2.9, Mg 0.1, Na 2.3, K 1.4, Cl- 2.3, SO4 2.8
meq/L-1. The physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined according to Chapman and Pratt
(1961)
Seeds of Amaranthus tricolor L. were sown on 15th March in both seasons. The seeds (3-5) were planted in
each pot 35 cm diameter filled with 10 kg soil. After three weeks of sowing, the seedlings were thinned to 3
plants per pot and a basal dose (4 gm/pot) of a mixed fertilizer (NPK 19:19:19) was added. The irrigation with
desired saline water was carried at 3 days intervals. Simultaneous to saline water addition, on the 15th of May,
the seedlings were sprayed monthly intervals by three concentrations of Ascophyllum nodosum (0, 2.5 and 3.0
cm3/L). A Completely randomized design was used, each treatment was replicated three times. At harvest time
15th October 2009 and 2010 seasons, some growth and flowering characters i.e. length of stem and root,
diameter of stem, fresh and dry weight of leaves, stems and roots, number of leaves and inflorescences per plant,
stalk length of inflorescences, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences and length of inflorescences were taken.
Proline concentration was determined in dry leaves according to Snell and Snell (1954) Nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium and sodium elements were determined according to the methods of Cottenie et al (1982). Total
carbohydrates percent was determined in dry leaves according to Dubois et al. (1956). The data were subjected
to statistical analysis of variance according to Snedecor and Cochran (1980). The combined analysis of the two
seasons was calculated according to the method of Steel and Torrie (1980) and treatments means compared by
LSD test.
Results And Discussion
Growth Characters:
Plant growth is the result of cell division, enlargement and differentiation. All these factors are affected by
water status of the plants (Mckersie and Leshen, 1994).The statistical analysis of obtained data in Tables (1 - 4)
show that all plant growth criteria studied were significantly depressed under the high level of saline water
(3000ppm) comparing with other treatments in both seasons. Such decrease in fresh and dry weight of roots
might be due to the reduction in water and mineral absorption and/ or the reduction in upper ground growth
under salinity conditions. Length of stem was decreased up to 33.7% and 52.7% under salinity at 2000 and 3000
ppm respectively, compared with control plants, while under 1000 ppm salinity, the harmful effect was
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 decreased and reached to 3.2% compared with plants irrigated with fresh water. The reduction in stem length
might be due to that salinity decreased the cell division and elongation and meristemic activity (Rug et al (1963)
and Bolus et al (1972).
Data in Tables (3 and 4) indicated that the highest values of fresh and dry weight of leaves, stems and roots
were obtained when plants irrigated with 1000 ppm salinity compared with other concentrations and control
plants, whereas under other salinity it decreased gradually with the increase in salinity. Bernstien et al (1972)
reported that the decrease in fresh and dry weight of all plant organs due to Cl or Na accumulation in leaves
might cause injury by interfering with normal stomata closure causing excessive water loss and leaf injury
symptoms like those of drought and CO2 fixation might be reduced under high level of salinity which led to
lower metabolism. This reduction may be attributed to increase the osmotic pressure of the irrigation water
which leads to a depression in water absorption by plants, consequently reduced plant photosynthesis. Such
reduction may be due to inadequacy of nutrients presented in the growing media (Sliman and Ghandoor,1988)
or to the decrease in water rate into plant (Sherif, 2000 ). The decreases in growth characters i.e. number of
leaves and root length may be due to the inhibition effect of salt stress on protein accumulation as reported by
Abd-EL Baki et al (2000) and Mutlu and Bozcuk (2005) on Zea mays and sunflower plants. These results herein
are agreement with the finding improved seedling quality and increased the ability of seedlings to survive
transplanting into pots of Shi and Sheng (2005), Ashraf et al (2005); Nahed et al (2006)Hussien et al (2007) and
Nahed et al (2011).
Concerning the effect of seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) extracts on the growth parameters, data in
Tables (1 - 4) showed that the application of seaweed had a significant stimulatory effect on growth parameters
of Amaranthus tricolor plants during two seasons. However, the most effective treatments which had the highest
length and diameter of the stem, root length, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves, stems and roots
when spraying with seaweed extract at the concentration of 3.0 cm3/L The increments were 23.4, 11.8, 37.8,
21.8, 31.2, 41.5, 55.5, 41.5, 50.5 and 63.9%, respectively, compared with untreated plants. The use of seaweed
extracts has been reported to have beneficial effects on plants. Foliar application of seaweed concentrate to
seedlings of Pinus pinea L. increased shoot length and weight and decreased the root to shoot ratio (Atzmon and
Van Staden, 1994). Seaweed extracts have been reported to obtaine the greater root and shoot development of
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L) (Goatley and Schmidt,1990) Abdel-Maguid et al., (2004) on Coratina
olive, Gobara (2004) on palms and Hegab et al.(2005) on orange trees. From data shown in Tables (1- 4 ) it is
evident that, in general, there was a significant positive interaction between saline water and seaweed
(Ascophyllum nodosum) application on growth parameters were recorded in both seasons and verified that
combined treatment of water salinity at 1000 ppm and seaweed extract at 3.0 cm3/L was highly efficient in
increasing Amaranthus tricolor plants as compared with other treatments, except treated plants with 3.0 cm/L
seaweed combined with treatment of irrigated with tap water which had non significant.
The lowest values of these parameters were recorded in the treatment of plants irrigated with salinity at
3000 ppm. The effect of seaweed on plant growth under stress conditions has been studied. Higher grain
production of wheat has been reported in response to seaweed application on wheat grown under water stress
(Mooney and Van Staden, 1985).
Table 1: Length and diameter of stems of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed ( Mean of two seasons). Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
Length of stem (cm)
Diameter of stem (cm)
Salinity(A)
Control
1000
2000
3000
Mean
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
(B)
0
82.4
87.7
60.0
54.0
71.03
2.5
94.5
90.0
70.8
62.3
79.40
3.0
100.3
108.5
76.5
65.2
87.63
Mean
92.40
95.40
69.10
60.50
0
2.00
2.04
1.72
1.68
1.86
2.5
2.18
2.11
1.88
1.77
1.99
0.99
0.86
0.09
0.08
(A)X(B)
1.72
0.16
3.0
2.23
2.30
1.94
1.83
2.08
Mean
2.13
2.15
1.85
1.76
Flowering Characters:
Increasing the levels of salinity from 2000 to 3000 ppm significantly decreased number of inflorescences,
stalk length of inflorescence, length of inflorescence, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences compared with
control plant (Tables 5 and 6). While plants treated with 1000 ppm salinity gave the highest values of these
parameters compared with other concentrations of salinity but insignificant with control plants (fresh water).
The lowest values of flowering parameters were obtained from plants treated with 3000 ppm salinity. The
decrements were 91.2, 99.5, 60.8, 55.9 and 93%, respectively compared with control plants. Wang (1998) found
that flower diameter decreased slightly as salinity increased. Kucukahmetler (2002) revealed that the salinity
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 caused a reduction of flower quality, color, size; stem thickness and length and yield of ornamental plants. Also,
Zapryanova and Atonassova (2009) postulated that blooming period decreased with the increase of Nacl
concentration in Tagetes and Ageratum plants. Nahed et al. (2011) reported that irrigation with saline water led
to a significant decrease in all flowers parameters of Matthiola incana plants. This reduction in flowering
parameters may be due to the inhibition of the photosynthesis of plants via the changes of chlorophyll contents
and components and damage of photosynthetic apparatus (Lyengar and Reddy, 1996). It also inhibits the
photochemical activities and decreases the activities of enzymes in the Calvin cycle (Sairam and Tyagi, 2004).
Irrespectively of the salinity effects, the seaweed extract application significantly increased the flowers
characters as well as plant parameters as compared with untreated plants (Table 5 and 6). Furthermore, the
application of seaweed at 2.5 cm3/L significantly increased the number and length of inflorescences, stalk length
of inflorescences, fresh and dry weight of inflorescences by 37.2, 27.6, 36.3, 25.4 and 38.6%, respectively over
the control plants. The favorable effect of seaweed may be due to its contain of a high cytokines activity, which
could be responsible for the many effects such as plant growth, flowering and chemical constituents (Brain et al
(1973). Cytokines are active at very low concentrations and regulate a number of plant functions including cell
division (Koda and Okazawa,1983), protein, enzyme formation, leaf aging and senescence, shoot elongation,
and fruit set (Torrey 1976).
Table 2: Length of roots and number of leaves/ plant of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed( Mean of two seasons).
Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
Length of roots (cm)
Number of leaves/ plant
Salinity(A)
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Control
14.5
18.0
21.0
17.83
68.6
83.3
84.0
77.30
1000
15.5
16.5
24.5
18.83
72.6
75.3
91.0
80.97
2000
11.0
12.5
13.0
12.17
51.3
60.0
62.6
57.97
3000
10.5
11.6
12.5
11.53
49.0
53.0
56.6
52.87
Mean
12.88
14.65
17.75
60.4
67.9
73.5
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
0.69
1.27
(B)
0.6
1.10
(A)X(B)
1.21
2.21
Table 3: Fresh weight of leaves, stems and roots (gm) of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed (Mean of two
seasons).
Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
Leaves
Salinity(A)
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Stems
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Control
75.60
90.65
96.35
87.53
96.21
134.96
142.75
124.64
53.00
79.006
87.20
69.97
1000
80.91
83.80
104.95
89.88
116.76
124.66
157.38
132.93
54.36
68.34
93.54
75.20
2000
49.15
62.24
68.50
59.96
54.15
73.72
83.72
70.53
40.25
51.32
57.60
49.72
51.78
58.19
43.61
3000
44.23
53.17
57.94
Mean
62.47
72.47
81.94
Roots
49.30
61.22
64.05
79.11
98.64
111.98
36.65
46.06
48.13
46.07
61.20
71.62
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
1.91
1.86
(B)
1.65
1.61
1.12
0.97
(A)X(B)
3.31
3.22
1.94
Table 4: Dry weight of leaves, stems and roots (gm) of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed (Mean of two seasons).
Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
Leaves
Stems
Roots
Salinity(A)
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Control
16.86
21.48
23.32
20.32
25.78
37.79
40.68
34.75
18.96
26.17
29.30
23.13
1000
18.29
19.35
26.24
21.53
31.64
34.41
45.64
32.23
17.67
22.42
31.80
24.98
2000
9.78
13.38
15.07
12.74
13.42
19.17
22.01
18.20
11.99
16.01
18.24
15.42
3000
8.67
10.74
11.20
10.20
12.03
15.37
16.46
14.62
10.78
13.86
14.73
13.12
Mean
13.40
16.24
18.96
20.72
26.69
31.20
14.35
19.62
23.52
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
0.92
1.43
1.01
(B)
0.79
1.23
0.87
(A)X(B)
1.59
2.47
1.75
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 Table 5: Number, stalk length and length of inflorescences of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed (Mean of two
seasons).
Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
Number of inflorescences
Stalk length of inflorescences
Length of inflorescences
Salinity(A)
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Control
29.0
36.0
40.0
35.0
19.3
25.5
27.3
24.0
22.2
25.8
28.4
25.4
1000
31.0
43.3
35.0
36.4
25.5
28.4
23.6
24.8
23.5
30.2
23.9
25.9
2000
17.6
26.3
23.6
22.5
11.3
18.7
16.5
15.5
14.5
21.0
19.0
18.1
3000
15.0
21.3
18.6
18.3
10.0
13.3
12.8
12.0
14.0
17.5
16.0
15.8
Mean
23.1
31.7
29.3
15.7
21.4
20.0
18.5
23.6
21.8
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
1.05
0.47
1.01
(B)
0.91
0.41
0.87
(A)X(B)
1.82
0.83
1.75
Table 6: Fresh and dry weight of inflorescences (gm) of Amaranthus tricolor L. as affected by salinity and seaweed (Mean of two seasons).
Seaweed Extract (cm3) (B)
Treatments
F.W. of inflorescences (gm)
D.W. of inflorescences (gm)
Salinity(A)
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
0
2.5
3.0
Mean
Control
33.54
40.25
42.35
38.71
5.80
7.56
8.26
7.24
1000
36.80
47.51
38.11
40.80
6.62
9.50
7.09
7.74
2000
24.65
30.46
28.50
27.87
3.65
5.12
4.95
4.45
3000
21.33
27.43
25.74
24.83
3.07
4.28
3.90
3.75
Mean
29.08
36.46
33.68
4.79
6.64
3.96
L.S.D at 5%
(A)
1.25
1.06
(B)
1.09
0.92
(A)X(B)
2.18
1.84
The interaction effect of salinity at 1000 ppm and spraying seaweed at 2.5 cm3/L significantly increased
the number and length of inflorescences, stalk length of inflorescences, fresh and dry weight of flowers
compared with control plants.
The alleviation of salinity stress by seaweed extract may be related to cytokine and to other non-identified
factors (Goatley and Schmidt, 1990) . Nabati et al. (1994) reported that increased salt stress tolerance of
Kentucky bluegrass in response to seaweed extract.
Chemical Constituents:
Macronutrients Contents:
Water stress inhibits growth through inhibition of various physiological and biochemical processes
including photosynthesis, respiration, hormones, and nutrient uptake and metabolism (Kramer and Boyer 1995).
Data in Figs (1-12) showed the influence of saline water at different concentrations, seaweed application and
their interaction on the macronutrients (N, P, K and Na) percentages in leaves, stems and roots of Amaranthus
tricolor plants. The percentage of N, P and K in the leaves and stems were higher than in the roots at all salinity
levels, but Na percentage in the roots and stem were higher than in the leaves. In this concern, Tabatabaei
(2006) and May and Muna (2007) reported that under saline condition the nutrient absorption is restricted by
lack of nutrients or by the small water potential in the rooting medium. They added that salt stress imposed by
Nacl induced a significant decrease in protein content along with activity of nutrase in the developed seedlings
and these changes were more significantly at higher salinity levels. These results are in a good agreement with
those obtained by Nahed et al. (2006), Azza et al. (2008), Abdel-Mawgoud et al. (2010) and Nahed et al.
(2011), who stated that all the salinity levels reduced the concentration and uptake of nutrient in Dragon head
plant and the effect was more severe under the highest level of salinity.
It is interesting to note that the change in Na+ concentration in Amaranthus tricolor plants due to chloride
salinity levels showed completely an opposite picture to that previous reported for K. Actually such results
reflect to great extent the competition between the uptake of the two cations i.e. Na+ and K+. Such competition
might be due to the existence of general carrier for their absorption by the roots. The metabolism of Na+ and K+
is an important component of salt stress. Usually, Na+ increases and K+ decreases in plants stressed by salt (De
Lacerda et al., 2003).
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 5
4.5
4
N% in leaves
3.5
3
0
2.5
2.5
3
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 1: Effect of seaweed on nitrogen percentage in leaves of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress .
0.6
P % in leaves
0.5
0.4
0
0.3
2.5
3
0.2
0.1
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 2: Effect of seaweed on phosphorus percentage in leaves of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under
alt stress.
3.9
3.8
3.7
K% in leaves
3.6
3.5
0
3.4
2.5
3.3
3
3.2
3.1
3
2.9
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 3: Effect of seaweed on potassium percentage in leaves of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 2
1.8
1.6
N a % in le a v e s
1.4
1.2
0
1
2.5
3
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig.4:
Effect of seaweed on sodium percentage in leaves of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
2.5
N% in stem s
2
1.5
0
2.5
3
1
0.5
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 5: Effect of seaweed on nitrogen percentage in stems of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
0.4
0.35
P % in stem s
0.3
0.25
0
2.5
0.2
3
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 6: Effect of seaweed on phosphorus percentage in stems of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under
salt stress.
1479
J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 1.6
1.4
K % i n s te m s
1.2
1
0
0.8
2.5
3
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 7: Effect of seaweed on potassium percentage in stems of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
2.5
Na% in stem s
2
1.5
0
2.5
3
1
0.5
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 8: Effect of seaweed on sodium percentage in stems of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress
1.8
1.6
1.4
N% in roots
1.2
0
1
2.5
0.8
3
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 9: Effect of seaweed on nitrogen percentage in roots of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
1480
J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 0.3
0.25
P % in ro o ts
0.2
0
0.15
2.5
3
0.1
0.05
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 10: Effect of seaweed on phosphorus percentage in roots of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
Stress.
1.2
K% in roots
1
0.8
0
2.5
0.6
3
0.4
0.2
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig.11: Effect of seaweed on potassium percentage in roots of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
3.6
3.5
N a % in ro o ts
3.4
0
3.3
2.5
3.2
3
3.1
3
2.9
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig.12: Effect of seaweed on sodium percentage in roots of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt
stress.
1481
J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 Data presented in Figs(1-12) proved that increasing seaweed application rate from 0 up to 3.0 cm3/L
increased the N, P and K nutrients percentages in leaves, stems and roots of Amaranthus tricolor plants. The
highest values of Na were obtained when plants untreated with seaweed followed by application of 3.0 cm3/L.
extracts of the brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) enhance the plant tolerance against environmental
stresses such as drought, salinity and frost (Rayirath et al., 2009).
Hormonal content of seaweed extracts, especially cytokines could be responsible for many factors, so
cytokines may have some physiological regulatory role in nutrient mobilization in plants (Kuiper and Staal,
1987) Application of algae extract improved the N content in palm leaves (Gobara, 2004), N, P and K
percentages in the leaves of orange trees (Hegab et al., 2005).
Furthermore, the combination between salinity levels and seaweed extracts levels were almost positive for
the percentages of N, P and K. The highest values of N, P and K elments were obtained under irrigated with
1000 ppm saline water combined with 3.0 cm3/L seaweed extracts, while plants irrigated with saline water at
3000 ppm and non sprayed with seaweed extracts gave the highest percentage of Na+ in the roots followed by
stems and leaves. Abd El-Baky et al. (2008) indicated that application of algae extracts could be provide
protection against the oxidative stress by increase the antioxidant protective system which involved as one of the
factor responsible for salt tolerance of wheat plants.
Total Carbohydrates Percentages:
Data presented in Fig.(13) stated that total carbohydrates % in leaves decreased when plants treated with
salinity at levels 2000 and 3000ppm compared with untreated plants and plants treated with 1000ppm saline
water in both seasons. The reduction in total carbohydrates as salinity levels increasing might have relation to
respiration processes since the free sugar were the main sugar pattern involve in the mechanism of respiration
(Bernstein et al.,1972).
45
T o ta l c a r b o h y d r a te (% )
40
35
30
0
25
2.5
20
3
15
10
5
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 13: Effect of seaweed on Total carbohydrates (%) of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt stress.
As for the effect of seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) extracts on carbohydrates percentage, application of
seaweed at 3.0 cm3/L gave the highest values of carbohydrates percentage as compared with the untreated
plants. The increment was 20.6% compared with control. Sridhar and Rengasamy (2010) indicated that the
plants treated with higher seaweed dosage, the carbohydrate content were increased. These results may be
related to that the seaweed contained higher amounts of cytokines, auxins, macro and micronutrients. The
significant interaction effect among the two studied factor (salinity x seaweed) on carbohydrate percentage
values were found when using salinity at 1000ppm combined with 3.0cm3/L seaweed.
Proline Content:
Salt stress increased the proline content in the leaves as compared with untreated plants (Fig.14). The
increments were 41.4, 75.9 and 113.8% when irrigated the plants with 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm salin water
respectively compared with untreated plants. It has been assumed that salt stress enhanced the production of
proline, which causes osmotic adjustment (Al-Bahrany, 1994).
1482
J. Appl. Sci. Res., 7(11): 1472-1484, 2011 Concerning the effect of seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum extracts in proline content, Fig (14) revealed that
increasing the concentrations of seaweed led to decrease the proline content in Amaranthus tricolor plants. The
decrements were 13 and 30% respectively, compared with untreated plants. With regard to the interaction
between salinity levels and the two concentrations of seaweed, the highest values of proline were obtained when
plants treated with salinity at 3000ppm combined with untreated plants.
In conclusion our results stated that irrigated Amaranthus tricolor plants with 1000 ppm saline water
combination with the two concentrations of seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum nodosum) gave the highest values of
growth parameters, flowering characters and chemical constituents.
0.8
0.7
P ro li n e (u m g -1 )
0.6
0.5
0
2.5
0.4
3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Control
1000
2000
3000
Treatments
Fig. 14: Effect of seaweed on proline (u mg-1) of Amaranthus tricolor plants growing under salt stress.
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