ABSTRACT
Background: Biotic and abiotic elicitors produce secondary metabolites and alter physiological traits of the plants by affecting some of the mechanisms within the plant cells
Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of spherical nano-carbon and salicylic acid on physiological traits and paratolenolidae content in Feverfew
Methods: This research was conducted in a factorial experiment based on randomized completely design [CRD] under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was Feverfew cultivar with two levels [T.parthenium Linn. cv. Jelitto and T. parthenium Linn. cv. Pharmasaat], the second factor was foliar spray of spherical nano-carbon with 5 levels [0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L] and the third factor was considered as foliar spray of salicylic acid with two levels [0 and 0.2 mM]
Results: The results showed that the cultivars, different concentrations of spherical nano-carbon, salicylic acid and their interactions had a significant effect on some of the studied traits. Two cultivars in the content of chlorophyll a and b and parthenolide showed significant differences at P<0.01. Also, the effect of spherical nano-carbon and salicylic acid concentrations on parethenolide content of extract was significant [P <0.01]. However, the highest content of parthenolide [24.22 Mug/0.1 g dry matter] was observed in pharmasaat and at the concentration of 500 mg/L spherical nano-carbon without salicylic acid application
Conclusion: Application of spherical nano-carbon at concentration of 500 mg/L along with 0.2 mM salicylic acid improved physiological traits and metabolic content of both cultivars