| Popis: |
Received: June 1st, 2021 ; Accepted: July 5th, 2021 ; Published: November 3rd, 2022 ; Correspondence: tony.sajyan@st.ul.edu.lb The separate and combined effect of lithovit-urea50 and bioumik was tested on salt-stressed tomato crops. Salinity was induced using three different NaCl solutions (2, 4 and 8 dS m-1 ). Under the salinity effect, all aspects of plant growth were inhibited. Total chlorophyll and carotenoids reduced from mg g-1 FW and 1.1 mg g-1 FW at 2 dS m-1 to reach 1.01 mg g-1 FW and 0.66 mg g-1 FW at 8 dS m-1 in control plants. Plants treated by the combination of both products had the highest chlorophyll and carotenoids content with 2.24 mg g-1 FW and 1.34 mg g-1 FW, 1.88 mg g-1 FW and 1.05 mg g-1 FW, and 1.39 mg g-1 FW and 0.86 mg g-1 FW respectively at 2, 4 and 8 dS m-1 . Treating plants by this combination maximized flower number, fruit weight, yield and fruit diameter at 2 dS m-1 (17 flowers, 47.93 g, 431.1 g plant-1 and 3.23 cm respectively) and 4 dS m-1 (15flowers, 36.45 g, 291.85 g plant-1 and 2.8 cm respectively). The separate application of bioumik minimized cell electrolyte leakage at 2 dS m-1 (8.82%) compared to control (11.43%). Additionally, plants treated by lithovit-urea and bioumik had the highest relative water content with 107.3%, 96.5% and 91.2% respectively at 2, 4 and 8 dS m-1 . N, Ca and Mg in roots were significantly the highest at 2 dS m-1 (4.5%, 2.6% and 0.5% respectively), at 4 dS m-1 (3.74%, 2.49% and 0.48% respectively) and at 8 dS m-1 (3.21%, 2.61% and 0.32% respectively). K content in roots was maximized following the separate application of bioumik with 3.21% at 2 dS m-1 and 2.55% at 8 dS m-1 . Conclusively, lithovit-urea and bioumik helped plants in tolerating salt-stress with an optimal effect obtained after their combination. |
