| Abstrakt: |
Karela plant has many therapeutic properties such as controlling diabetes, anticancer, and antimicrobial. Considering the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and their effect on reducing the quality of plants and increasing environmental pollution, this study was carried out to investigate the impact of biological and organic fertilizers on leaf chlorophyll index, yield, and quality of Karela fruit. The factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research farm of Agriculture Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Sistan and Baluchistan province, Agriculture Institute, Research Institute of Zabol, Zabol, Iran during 2021- 2022. The experimental treatments include mycorrhiza at two levels (inoculation with Glomus mosseae and non-inoculation), plant growth-promoting bacteria at four levels (non-inoculation, inoculation with Azotobacter, inoculation with Pseudomonas and inoculation with both strains) and vermicompost at four levels (0, 4, 7, and 10 t/ha). The results showed that the chlorophyll index, fruit dry weight, and fruit quality were lower in the second year due to the increase in temperature, decrease in rainfall, and enhancement in monthly evaporation compared to the first year. The separate and combined application of mycorrhiza, plant growth-promoting bacteria, and vermicompost had positive effects on the studied traits compared to the control treatment (non-application of these factors). The combined treatments of all three agents had a greater positive effect than their separate applications. The combined treatment of mycorrhizal inoculation and the use of both bacterial strains in the presence of 10 t/ha vermicompost, had the most positive effect on the studied traits, and increased fruit carotenoid, fruit potassium, and chlorophyll index by 80.7%, 30.9%, and 72.7%, respectively. According to the results of the present study, the combined treatment of G. mosseae inoculation and the use of both bacterial strains (Azetobacter and Pseudomonas) with 10 t/ha of vermicompost can be used based on the increase of leaf chlorophyll index, total carotenoid, dry weight of fruits, the content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium elements, recommended to improve the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Karela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
