Effect of chitosan, brassinosteroids and myo-inositol on pot marigold plants

Ramadan, Hanaa A. A.; Rashwan, A. A.; Elameen, T. M; Mohamed, M. A. H.

doi:10.21608/svuijas.2025.410952.1493

Effect of chitosan, brassinosteroids and myo-inositol on pot marigold plants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, South valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt

² Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, South valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt

³ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University

10.21608/svuijas.2025.410952.1493

Abstract

The annual herbaceous pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), valued for its ornamental and medicinal properties. Different plant biostimulants could use for minimizing the negative effects of agricultural chemicals on ecosystems and human health Calendula officinalis was subjected to a split-plot experiment. Main plot treatments consisted of chitosan (CH) at 0.00, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.60 g/L, while subplots received either brassinolide (BR) at 0.10 or 0.20 g/L, or myo-inositol (MYO) at 0.25 or 0.50 g/L. All treatments improved plant and flower fresh and dry weights, and there were clear interactions between CH and BR/MYO. The highest total biomass (64.39 g/plant) came from 0.60 g/L CH + 0.10 g/L BR, while 0.60 g/L CH + 0.50 g/L MYO produced the most flowers (50) and the heaviest dry flowers (144.5 g/plant). Plants with no treatment had the lowest yield and chlorophyll content (SPAD = 40.17), whereas 0.40 g/L CH + 0.50 g/L MYO achieved the highest chlorophyll level (SPAD = 46.87). Both CH and BR/MYO significantly boosted N, P, and K levels in the plants. For optimal fresh and dry flower yield, application of 0.60 g/L CH combined with either 0.20 g/L BR or 0.50 g/L MYO is recommended.

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