EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL AND EDTA APPLICATION ON PLANT GROWTH AND PHYTO-EXTRACTION POTENTIAL OF SORGHUM (SORGHUM BICOLOR)

摘要

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of selected plant growth regulators(PGRs) on the proximate composition, biochemical and antioxidants attributes of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) leaves.Different concentrations of exogenously applied PGRs such as humic acid (HA), cytokinin (CK), gibberellic acid (GA3) andGA3+CK exhibited variable effect on the tested parameters. The foliar spray with HA (0.6%), GA3+CK (20+20 ppm), GA3(20 ppm) and CK (40 ppm) increased the contents of moisture, ash, crude fiber and crude protein in broccoli leaves. Withfew exceptions, the antioxidant capacity of broccoli leaves, in terms of estimation of total phenolics content (TPC), totalflavonoids content (TFC), reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity, was also improved due to foliar spray ofPGRs. The results showed that maximum contents of total chlorophyll (1.98 mg/g FW), protein (7.09 mg/g FW), and proline(0.62 μg/g FW) were exhibited by GA3+CK (10+10 ppm), GA3 (20 ppm) and GA3+CK (20+20 ppm) treated samples,respectively. Meanwhile, GA3+CK (10+10 ppm) was found to be the most effective growth promoter in loweringmelondialdehyde (MDA) content (0.89 μM/g FW) of broccoli leaves. In conclusion, it can be revealed that optimized foliarspray of selected PGRs, and especially of HA and mixture of GA3 and CK, is practically applicable towards improvingbiochemical and antioxidant attributes of broccoli leaves with potential nutritional benefits.