The Effect of Bio-fertilizers on Growth, Grain and Essential Oil Yield of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) under Drought Stress

Document Type : Scientific - Research

Authors

1 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran

2 Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran

3 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), a plant belonging to the Apiaceae family uses as both food and medicine. Increasing the desired compounds of medicinal plants is possible by cultivation techniques manipulation such as irrigation, fertilization or photo-bioreactor systems. Water deficit stress, permanently or temporary, limits the growth and the distribution of natural vegetation and the performance of cultivated plants more than any other environmental factors. Babaee et al. (2010) stated that water stress decreased plant height, the number of secondary branches, dry and fresh weight, growth and root mass, dry and fresh weight root and length root of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). Bio-fertilizers as an alternative in some cases and in most cases as a complement to chemical fertilizers can help to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Han et al. (2006) studied the effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB), Bacillus mucilaginosus in nutrient limited soil planted with pepper and cucumber and stated that Rock P and K applied either alone or in combination did not significantly enhance soil availability of P and K. PSB was a more potent P-solubilizer than KSB, and co-inoculation of PSB and KSB resulted in consistently higher P and K availability than in the control. Rock P with inoculation of PSB increased the availability of P and K, the uptake of N, P and K by shoots and roots, and the growth of both pepper and cucumber. Combined together, rock materials and both bacterial strains consistently increased further mineral availability, uptake and plant growth, suggesting their potential use as fertilizer. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of bio-fertilizers inoculation and drought stress on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Marian thistle.
Materials and methods
This experiment was conducted in a split plot design based on randomized complete block with three replications, at Agricultural Research Station, University of Zabol, during growing season of 2012. Main plots consisted of irrigation with 40, 60, 80 and 100% field capacity and subplots including plant nutrition with no fertilizer (control), nitroxin, super nitroplus and bio-phosphorus. Plant traits such as days to maturity, plant height, the number of main branches, seed yield per plant, seed yield per ha, essential oil percentage, and essential oil yield were measured. For statistical analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) and simple correlation analysis were performed using SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).
Results and Discussion
In this experiment, main effects of drought stress and bio-fertilizer on all studied traits were significant at 1% probability level. Plants irrigated with 80% of field capacity in comparison with other levels, showed a significant increase in number of days to maturity, plant height, the number of main branches and seed yield. Plants grown under bio-phosphorus had maximum value for days to maturity, plant height, the number of main branches and yield followed by nitroxin and super nitroplus. Interaction of water stress and bio-fertilizer had significant effect on days to maturity, plant height, seed yield and essential oil yield, but this effect for the number of main branches and essential oil were not significant. The maximum plant height, days to maturity, seed yield and essential oil yield were achieved from irrigation of 80% of field capacity and bio-phosphorus bio-fertilizer.

Conclusion
The amount of bio-fertilizers due to its role in improving the nutritional conditions of the plant can play an important role in offsetting the harmful effects of drought stress. In addition, the use of bio-fertilizers in terms of humidity limits can be useful to overcome the negative effects of stress.

Keywords


Abbaszade, B. 2004. Impact of different levels and methods of nitrogen fertilizer application on the amount of lemon balm essential oil. MSc thesis, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, pp. 35-60. (In Persian with English Summary)
Ardekani, M., Abbaszade, B., Sharif Ashur Abadi, S., Lebaschi, M.H., and Paknejad, F. 2005. The effects of water deficit on quantity and quality of Melissa officinalis. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research 23(2): 261-251. (In Persian with English Summary)
Babaie, K., Amin Dehaghi, M., Modares Sanavie, A.M., and Jabari, R. 2009. Effects of water stress on morphological characteristics, proline and thymol in thyme (Thymus vulgais L.). Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research 26(2): 251-239. (In Persian with English Summary)
Babaie, N., Daneshyan, J., Hamidie, A., Hadi, H., and Arzanesh, M.H. 2007. The effect of prompting bacterial on growth and characteristics of sunflower seed in dehydration conditions. Journal of Biological Sciences 3(1): 18-17.
Bryant J.P., Chapin III, F.S., and Klein D.R. 1983. Carbon/nutrient balance of boreal plants in relation to vertebrate herbivory. Oikos 40: 357–368.
Erkossa, T., Stahr, K., and Tabor, G. 2002. Integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers: Effect on vegetable productivity. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia 82: 247-256.
Fatma, A.G., Lobna, A.M., and Osman, N.M. 2008. Effect of compost and biofertilizers on growth yield and essential oil of sweet marjoram (Majorana hortensis) plant. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 10(4): 381–387.
Gershenzon, J. 1984. Changes in levels of plant secondary metabolites under water and nutrient stress In: Timmermann, B.N., Steelink, C., and Leowus, F.A. (eds.), Phytochemical Adaptation to Stress, Plenum Press, New York., pp.273 – 320.
Guenther, E. 1961. The Essential Oils, Vol. 1. Van Nostrand; New York, USA 6: 147-185.
Han, H.S., Supanjani, D., and Lee, K.D. 2006. Effect of coin coculation with phosphate andpotassium solubilizing bacteria on mineral uptake and growth of pepper and cucumber. Plant, Soil and Environment 52: 130-136.
Hassani, A., and omidbeigi, R. 2001. Effects of water stress on some morphological characteristics, physiological and metabolic ocimum basilicum. Journal of Agricultural Science 12(3): 59-47.
Heydari, M., Bakhshande, A.M, Nadyan, H., Fathi, G.H., and Alamisaaed, K.H. 2004. Impact of different levels of salinity and nitrogen on yield and nutrient uptake of sodium and potassium and osmotic regulators in Chamran wheat. Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science 37(3): 501-510.
Jangow, G., Hoeflich, G., and Hoffman, K.H. 1991. Inoculation of non-symbiotic rhizosphere bacteria: Possiblities of increasing and stabilizing yield. Angewandte Botanik 65:97-126.
Kalamyan, S., Modares Sanavie, A., and Sepehri, A. 2004. Effect of water deficit on vegetative and reproductive growth stages in commercial leafy corn hybrids. Journal of Soil and Water 5(3): 38-51. (In Persian with English Summary)
Khavazi, K., Asadi Rahmani, H., and malekouti, M.J. 2004. Articles Regarding Biological Fertilizer Production in the Country. Senate Publications, Tehran, Iran. 435 pp. (In Persian)
Koocheki, A. and Nassiri Mahallati, M. 1991. Ecological Agriculture. Jihad Mashhad University Press, Mashhad, Iran. 291 pp. (In Persian)
Letchamo, W., and Gosselin, A. 1996. Transpiration, essential oil glands, epicuticular wax and morphology of Thymus vulgaris are influenced by light intensity and water supply. Journal of Horticultural Science 71 (1): 123–134.
Loomis, W.D., and Corteau, R. 1972. Essential oil biosynthesis. Recently Advances in Photochemistry 6: 147-185.
Lorio P.L. 1986. Growth-differentiation balance: A basis for understanding southern pin beetle-tree interaction. Forest Ecology Management 14: 259–273.
Mc Quilken, M., Halmer, P., and Rhodes, P.D.J. 1998. Application of microorganisms to seeds. In: Formulation of Microbial Biopesticdes: beneficial microorganisms, nematodes and seed treatment, Burges, H.D. (ed). pp: 255-285. Kulwer Academic Publisher. The Netherlands.
Mohammadvarzi, B., Habibi, D., Vazan, S.A., and Pazky, A. 2009. Effect of bacteria growth and nitrogen on quality (Heliaanthus annus L.) seed. Journal - Acophiziology Crops Research 2(3): 160-156.
Munns, R. 1993. Physiological process limiting plant growth in saline soil: some dogmas and hypothese. Plant Cell and Environment 16: 15-24.
Nagananda, G.S., Das, A., Bhattacharya, S., and Kalpana, T. 2010. In vitro studies on the effects of biofertilizers (Azotobacter and Rhizobium) on seed germination and development of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. using a novel glass marble containing liquid medium. International Journal of Botany 6: 394-403.
Najafvand, S.N., Alemzadeh, A., and Ansari, F. 2008. Effect of different level of nitrogen fertilizer with two types of bio-fertilizer on growth and yield of two cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). Journal of plant Science 7(8):757-761.
Rabeian, Z., Rahimzade Khoie, F., Kazemi Arbat, H., and Parnya, M. 2008. Biological effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the yield and yield components of chickpea cultivars under different levels of irrigation. Journal of Agricultural Science 2(6): 93-96.
Ramamoorthy, K., Natarajan, N., and Lakshmanan, A. 2000. Seed bio-fortification with Azospirillum spp.for improvement of seedling vigor and productivity in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Seed Science and Technology 28: 809-815.
Rhizopoulous, S., and Diamatoglon S. 1991. Water stress induced diurnal variations in leaf water relations, stomatal conductance, soluble sugars, lipids and essential oil content of Origanum majorana L. Journal of Horticultural Science 66(1): 119–125.
Saravanakumar, D., Kavino, M., Raguchander, T., Subbian, P., and Samiyappan, R. 2011. Plant growth promoting bacteria enhance water stress resistance in green gram plants. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 33: 203–209.
SAS Institute. 2013. The SAS system for Windows. Release 9.2. SAS Institute. Cary, NC.
Sharma, A.K. 2002. Biofertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture. Agrobios, India 407 p.
Shubhra, K., Dayal, J., Goswami, C.L. and Munjal, R. 2004. Effects of water-deficit on oil of Calendula aerial parts. Biologia Plantarum 48(3): 445-448.
Simon, J.E., Bodenheim, R.D., Joly, D.J., and Charles, R.J. 1992. Water stress-induced alterations in essential oil content and composition of sweet basil. Journal of Essential Oil Research 4: 71-75.
Tuomi, J., Niemela, P., Haukioja, E., and Neuvonen, S. 1984. Nutrient stress an explant at ion for plant anti- herbivore responses to defoliation. Ecologia 61: 208–210.
Wu, S.C., Cao, Z.H., Li, Z.G., Cheung, K.C., and Wong, M.H. 2005. Effects of bio-fertilizer containing N-fixer, P and K solubilizers and AM fungi on maize growth: a greenhouse trial. Geoderma 125: 155–166.
Zahir, A.Z., Arshad, M., and Frankenberger, W.F. 2004. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: applications and perspectives in agriculture. Advances in Agronomy 81: 97-168.
CAPTCHA Image