Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments and mineral ions content of bean [vicia faba cv Giza 402] plants raised from pre-sowing uniconazole soaked seeds

ABSTRACT

Growth parameters [represented by stem length, number of branches and leaves, fresh and dry weight of shoot system as well as the water content and its percentage in the shoot], photosynthetic pigments content [viz. chlor. a, chlor. b and carotenoids] and the mineral ions content [viz. K, Ca and Mg] of Vicia faba [cv. Giza 402] plants raised from pre-sowing soaked seeds in the following concentrations of uniconazole 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 ppm and collected after five and nine weeks from sowing were studied. The treatments reduced all the studied growth parameters at the two ages investigated. The decrement was often directly proportional with the concentration used of uniconazole and it was almost significant at 1% level of probability. The only exception of this was that at the second studied age, increase in the average number of branches and levels was observed with the treatments and it was sometimes significant at 5% level of probability. The treatments caused increase in the photosynthetic pigments which was more obvious after five weeks from sowing while after nine weeks from sowing the increment in this criterion was restricted to the two higher concentrations used [20, 40 ppm]. Mineral ions contents [viz. Ca, K and Mg] of bean shoots were increased in comparison with control plants, the increase were directly proportional with the concentration used of uniconazole and it was almost significant at 1% level of probability