Effects of Potassium Iodide Foliar Applications on Iodine Enrichment of Roka Plant (Eruca vesicaria)

This study was carried out to investigate the biofortification of the rocket (Eruca vesicaria) plant with micro element iodine through foliar fertilization. The study was carried out in a greenhouse with 5 doses of potassium iodide (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1 mM KI), two different application times (1 and 2 weeks before harvest once) and three replicates according to the factorial experiment design in randomized parcels. In order to determine the reaction of rocket plant on the iodine, plant fresh and dry weight, leaf width, length and area, chlorophyll content and plant iodine content were determined. KI applied by foliar produced very statistically significant difference (P <0.05) in fresh and dry weight. The plant fresh weight decreased from 42.58 to 32.1 g and the plant dry weight from 5.63 to 4.12 g. The application time on leaf width, length and area was statistically significant (P <0.01); chlorophyll content was not statistically different. The iodine content of plants increased parallel to the application doses. KI applied 1 week before harvest was increased iodine content of rocket plant from 1,23 to 9,22 mg kg-1; KI applied 2 weeks before harvest was increased from 5.04 to 242.93 mg kg-1. In both applications the highest I content was reached with 0.8 mM KI application. There was a significant increase in the iodine content of plants as their exposure to iodine was prolonged. As a result, it was determined that potassium iodine can be used to increase the iodine content of rocket plant, However, it has been found that in order to determine the dose which does not cause vegetative damage to the plants, more detailed dose studies should be performed.