Effect of spraying of molybdenum and tyrosine on growth, yield and chemical composition of lemon basil plant

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar application of molybdenum [zero. 50. 100, 200, and 400 ppm] and/or tyrosine as a source of amino acids with levels of zero. 50 and 100 ppm on growth, yield and chemical composition of lemon basil plant at the Experimental Farm of Cultivation and Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Dept. National Research Center. Giza, Egypt, during two successive seasons of 2001 and 2002. Application of the combined treatment [50 ppm molybdenum + 50 ppm tyrosine] resulted in the maximum values of plant height, plant diameter. number of branches, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, leaves fresh weight, leaves dry weight, flowers fresh weight and Howers dry weight, while the combined treatment of 400 ppm molybdenum resulted in the minimum values for most characters. Interaction between tyrosine and molybdenum decreased hydrocarbonic compounds comparing with control or plants received molybdenum or tyrosine separately. The essential oil was studied with GLC to reveal that the major compounds in all treatment was citral-a, citral-b, humulene and linalool