Selenium to Improve Growth Characters, Photosynthetic Pigments and Essential Oil Composition of Chives Varieties

Abstract

Background and Objective: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) has various medical uses and biological activities such as antioxidant and antimicrobial. Selenium (Se) plays an important role in some physiological process in higher plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate vegetative growth characters (VGC) {plant height {PH} (cm/plant), fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) as g/plant}, photosynthetic pigments (PHP) {chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b and total carotenoids (TC)} and essential oil (EO) composition of two chives varieties under Se treatments. Materials and Methods: Two varieties of chives {A. schoenoprasum Moskurl 2 Petra (M2P) and A. schoenoprasum Moskurl 2 KRA USA (M2K)} were exposed to different doses of Se (control, 3, 6, 9 and 12 mg LG 1 ) as foliar spray. Randomized Complete block design (RCBD) was used and the averages of data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Results: Six mg LG 1 (Se) x M2K variety resulted in the greatest values (41.0, 55.6 and 9.6) of VGC. The highest accumulations of Chl a and TC (1.9 and 0.6) were obtained from M2P and M2K varieties treated with 12 mg LG 1 (Se) while M2K plants x 6, 9 and 12 mg LG 1 (Se) produced the highest amounts (0.3) of Chl b. 6 mg LG 1 (Se) treatment reported the greatest amounts of the contents of EO which recorded the values of 0.6 mL/(100 plant), 192 mL/(feddan) and 480 mL haG 1 . The major constituents of EO (dipropyl trisulfide, 1-propenyl propyl disulfide, dipropyl disulfide, methyl propyl disulfide and methyl propyl trisulfide) were changed (increased or decreased) or not changed under Se, chives varieties and their interactions. Conclusion: It may be concluded that treated chives varieties with Se doses improved the VGC and EO while PHP and major constituents of EO were changed. Under Se treatments the M2K variety produced higher values of VGC and EO content than M2P while no differences were found in PHP. Different variations were obtained in the major constituents of EO of both varieties under Se applications.