Abstract. Tarraf SA, Talaat IM, El-Sayed AEB, Balbaa LK. 2015. Influence of foliar application of algae extract and amino acids mixture on fenugreek plants in . Two pot experiments were conducted to study the effect of foliar application of algae extract and amino acids mixture on the growth and chemical constituents of fenugreek plants (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Plants were sprayed with different concentrations of algae extract (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 g/L) or equivalent of amino acids mixture (0.0, 0.625, 1.25 g/L). The results indicated that foliar application of amino acids mixture enhanced the vegetative growth of fenugreek plants, especially when plants were sprayed with 1.25 g/L amino acids mixture. Data also show that total nitrogen, essential oil percentage and yield followed the same trend. These results hold true for plants cultivated in either clay soil or sandy soil.Data also indicated that foliar application of algae extract to fenugreek plants significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and fresh and dry weights of plant at vegetative growth stage and flowering stage of fenugreek plant, especially in plants treated with 5 g/L algae extract in sandy and clay soils, respectively. Treatment of fenugreek plants with algae extract markedly increased nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents, especially at 5 g/L.

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Abstract. El-Moursi A, Talaat IM, Balbaa LK. 2012. Physiological effect of some antioxidant polyphenols on sweet marjoram (Majorana hortensis) plants. Nusantara Bioscience 4: 11-15. Two pot experiments were conducted in the screen of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt to study the physiological effect of foliar application of some antioxidant polyphenols on growth and chemical constituents of sweet marjoram plants (Majorana hortensis L.). Plants were treated with curcuminoids, cinnamic acid and salicylic acid, each at 5 and 10 mg/L except the control plants. The results indicate that foliar application of curcuminoids increased growth parameters under study. Total sugars were also increased as a result of foliar application of curcuminoids. On the other hand, oil %, oil yield, and nitrogen % were decreased as a result of curcuminoids treatments. Cinnamic acid at 5 mg/L resulted in the tallest plants in most cases. Application of cinnamic acid at 10 mg/L significantly increased oil % and total oil yield/plant. Sugar content followed the same trend. Treatment of sweet marjoram plants with salicylic acid significantly increased oil % and oil yield, especially in plants treated with 10 mg/L SA. Total sugars % and total nitrogen % followed the same trend. The main constituents of the plant essential oil were also markedly affected.

Abstract. Orabi SA, Talaat IM, Balbaa LK. 2014. Physiological and biochemical responses of thyme plants to some antioxidants. Nusantara Bioscience 6: 118-125. Two pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of tryptophan, nicotinamide and α-tocopherol (each at 50 and 100 mg/L) on plant growth, essential oil yield, and its main constituents. All treatments significantly promoted plant height, and increased fresh and dry mass (g/plant) of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). The treatment with 100 mg/L nicotinamide showed increases in total potassium mainly in the first cut. Total soluble sugars, oil percentage, and oil yield and protein recorded increments with tryptophan treatments. Treatment of Thymus plants with 100 mg/L nicotinamide observed the highest percentage of thymol (67.61%). Oxygenated compounds recorded the highest value with 50 mg/L α-tocopherol treatment, while the maximum non-oxygenated ones resulted from the application of 100 mg/L nicotinamide. All treatments under study significantly affected the activity of oxidoreductase enzymes (POX and PPO). Nicotinamide at the concentration of 100 mg/L recorded the highest increments in APX and GR and the lowest values in oxidoreductase enzyme activities added to the lowest values of lipid peroxidation to enhance the best protection of thyme plants.