Foliar spray of moringa leaves extract enhanced the chemical contents of Lemon Bee balm plant (Monarda ciriodora L.)

Sarhan, Atef; Ashour, Hossam Ahmed; Wahba, Hend Elsayed; Salama, Adel B.; Gad, Heba

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2021.86349.4197

Foliar spray of moringa leaves extract enhanced the chemical contents of Lemon Bee balm plant (Monarda ciriodora L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Ornamental Horticulture Plants dep., Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt

² Ornamental Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

³ Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Dept., National Research Center, 33 El Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt

⁴ Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Dep., National Research center, Giza, Egypt

⁵ Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2021.86349.4197

Abstract

Monarda citriodora L. plant is an important aromatic and medicinal plant (Fam. Lamiaceae). It is economical importance due to its rich in Thymol compound in the volatile oil. The dependency on the use of chemical fertilizer as a source of plant nutrients and their high cost is further associated with land soil degradation and environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to investigate the tested of three levels of chemical fertilizers (recommended dose 100% NPK, 300:200:100 kg/fed., 75% and 50% NPK). As well as foliar spray of moringa leaves extract (MLE) as growth promoting at 0.0, 1:40, 1:30 and 1:20 and their interactions between them on essential oil production, total phenolic content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant activity of Monarda citriodora L. plant. The highest level of NPK 100% (RD) improved the most chemical contents followed by 75% and then 50%. The different concentrations of MLE significantly increased the chemical contents as compared to the control treatment. These constituents increased gradually with increasing the concentration of MLE up to (1:20). Under the same level of NPK, MLE application increased the chemical constituents comparing to NPK without MLE spray. Also, it was observed that the use of the natural extract (MLE) combined with low levels of chemical fertilization lead to increase these constituents compared to high levels of the chemical fertilization (NPK) without spraying the MLE extract. So, applying the natural extract of MLE can be partial substitution of the chemical fertilizers and produced a high quality of Monarda citriodora L., plants.

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