Effects of Mycorrhiza inoculation and Seaweed Extracts on the Growth and Flowering of Zinnia elegans L.

Abstract

An experiment was assayed to study the impact of mycorrhiza and liquid seaweed extracts on the growth of Zinnia elegans L. This experiment was designed according to (R.C.B.D) with three replicates and two factors. The first factor inoculated two levels of mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae) (30, and 0 g/plant), and the second factor was seaweed extract foliar application with three levels of (0, 1, and 2ml/L). The results indicated that soil mycorrhiza fungi inoculation treatments significantly improved root length (45.29cm), root dry matter percentage (12.13%), root surface area (29.67ds2), and percentage of roots mycorrhiza infection (85.667%). Moreover, treating the plants with mycorrhiza led to improved flower characteristics such as early flowering (32.444 days), flower diameter (8.378cm), and flower stem diameter (4.722 mm). In addition, the seaweed extracts at a concentration of 2ml/L significantly affected most traits, while the percentage of nitrogen in leaves was influenced by both (1 and 2ml/L) concentrations were 2.773% and 2.762% respectively. Additionally, mycorrhiza treatments notably increased chemical components in the leaves; Chlorophyll intensity (23.982 spad unit), Nitrogen (2.864%), Phosphorus (0.378%), and Potassium (4.659%) concentrations. Finally, the interaction between mycorrhiza inoculation and foliar application of seaweed extracts at 2ml/L per plant maintained a significant effect on the quality of flower production of Zinnia elegans in the open field.