Articles
Influence of chemical fertilization on the growth and production of young shrubs of Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia
Article number
1444_42
Pages
313 – 320
Language
English
Abstract
Mastic gum or mastiha is a unique resin that is produced in the southern part of Chios Island (Greece). The mastic tree or mastiha tree (Pistacia lentiscus var.
Chia) is a plant also used in landscaping.
In the present study, the effect of chemical fertilization on the growth and mastiha production of young plants was investigated.
The application of fertilizers was carried out on 90 young mastiha plants (5 years old), grown on the island of Chios in 10 L pots (50% soil and 50% peat, v/v), which were propagated by shoot cuttings.
Five fertilization treatments were conducted by scattering the solid fertilizers uniformly over the surface of the soil mixture of each pot (top dressing). These were: a) ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4, 20 g pot-1] in March, b) ammonium sulfate (20 g pot-1) in March and repeated in June, c) ammonium sulfate (20 g pot-1) in March followed by top dressing of potassium nitrate [(KNO3), 40 g pot-1] in June, d) potassium nitrate (40 g pot-1) in June, e) Complesal® [(N:12-P:12-K:17-Mg:2), 40 g pot-1] in June, and f) control (no fertilization), using 15 plants per treatment.
In mid-July, the young plants were wounded (kentima) to produce mastiha, and a month later the amount of mastiha produced, the photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content index and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were recorded, as well as the main terpenes were detected in mastiha using GC/MS. According to the results, chemical fertilization in March increased mastiha production (67.5 mg plant-1), regardless of its repetition in June with either ammonium sulfate or potassium nitrate.
In addition, the chemical fertilization increased the photosynthetic rate (7.57 μmol m‑2 s‑1), chlorophyll content index (47.5), and chlorophyll fluorescence (0.765) compared to the control, but did not affect the chemical profile of mastiha
Chia) is a plant also used in landscaping.
In the present study, the effect of chemical fertilization on the growth and mastiha production of young plants was investigated.
The application of fertilizers was carried out on 90 young mastiha plants (5 years old), grown on the island of Chios in 10 L pots (50% soil and 50% peat, v/v), which were propagated by shoot cuttings.
Five fertilization treatments were conducted by scattering the solid fertilizers uniformly over the surface of the soil mixture of each pot (top dressing). These were: a) ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4, 20 g pot-1] in March, b) ammonium sulfate (20 g pot-1) in March and repeated in June, c) ammonium sulfate (20 g pot-1) in March followed by top dressing of potassium nitrate [(KNO3), 40 g pot-1] in June, d) potassium nitrate (40 g pot-1) in June, e) Complesal® [(N:12-P:12-K:17-Mg:2), 40 g pot-1] in June, and f) control (no fertilization), using 15 plants per treatment.
In mid-July, the young plants were wounded (kentima) to produce mastiha, and a month later the amount of mastiha produced, the photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content index and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were recorded, as well as the main terpenes were detected in mastiha using GC/MS. According to the results, chemical fertilization in March increased mastiha production (67.5 mg plant-1), regardless of its repetition in June with either ammonium sulfate or potassium nitrate.
In addition, the chemical fertilization increased the photosynthetic rate (7.57 μmol m‑2 s‑1), chlorophyll content index (47.5), and chlorophyll fluorescence (0.765) compared to the control, but did not affect the chemical profile of mastiha
Authors
M. Ganiari, A. Economou, S. Kostas, I. Smyrnioudis, T. Vasilakis, M. Chazakis, F. Koutsou, S. Hatzilazarou
Keywords
mastic gum, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence, terpenes
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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