Stimulation of Growth, Flowering and Biochemical Constituents of Chamomile Plant (Chamomilla recutita L., Rausch) With Spermidine and Stigmasterol Application

摘要

Botany Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. TWO pot experiments were conducted during two growing seasons 2001-02 and 2002-03 at the greenhouse of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt to study the effect of some bioregulators (spermidine and Stigmasterol) on growth, flowering, biochemical constituents and essential oil of chamomile plant (Chamomilla recutita L., Rausch). Spermidine and Stigmasterol concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/l) and control (distilled water) wereapplied during the vegetative stage. Both bioregulators especially at 100 mg/l significantly improved plant growth parameters (plant height, branches number, fresh and dry weight/plant) during the vegetative stage. Spermidine was more effective than Stigmasterol. This effect was consequential during the flowering stage. However, fresh and dry weights, flowers number and weight were more effected with Stigmasterol application than spermidine. Spermidine and Stigmasterol at the concentration of 100 mg/lwere more effective on growth at both stages. Consequently, biochemical constituents of leaves (total sugars, phenols and indoles) were increased. Essential oil content of flowers was significantly improved with both bioregulators application at 100 mg/l. Stigmasterol was more effective than spermidine in increasing essential oil content and yield/plant at the three collections. The major components of chamomile essential oil, that identified by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) were farnesene, bisabololoxide (3,a bisabolol, chamazulene and bisabolol oxide A. Their percentages were varied according to the concentration of applied spermidine and Stigmasterol.