RESPONSE OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS LAM. TO SOME NATURAL EXTRACTS AT THE EARLY GROWTH STAGES 1- VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND ROOT TRAITS

A field experiment was consummated at the nursery of Horticulture Research Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt, throughout two successive seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014). It was intended to improve vegetative growth and root parameters of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. at the early growth stages by studying the effect of treating the plants with different natural extracts botanicals (Moringa oleifera, Lam., Thymus vulgaris, L. and Majorana hortensis, Moench) at the levels of 0, 5 and 10%, besides the combination of moringa + marjoram, moringa + thyme and marjoram + thyme extracts at 2.5%. All of them were applied as a foliar spray commencing from November 20th in both seasons on transplants of 14-15 cm. height with 4-5 leaves till June 20th of the next year at 15 days interval. The plants were grown in sand + peatmoss mixture (1:1, v/v) under the condition of saran house of 65% shading. The results could be briefed as follows: Most plants which received the highest natural extract level (10%) died after about six times of the beginning of spraying. So, the corresponding data of such treatments were excluded. The prevalence of supplying plants with moringa extract at 5% for improving vegetative growth and root parameters of  Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. plant at the terminate of experiment (July 15th)  as it increased leaf area, fresh and dry weights of either leaves or roots/plant. Also, it raised root length, root diameter, number of the secondary roots/ plant, length of the longest secondary root. Meanwhile, using the combination of marjoram + thyme extracts at 2.5% belonged to the first and second degree for improving the above mentioned traits in most cases. In contrast, the least scores were a result of untreated plants (control) and plants which received only thyme extract at 5%. From the aforementioned results, it could be recommended to apply either moringa extract at 5% or the combination of marjoram + thyme extracts at 2.5% on Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. transplants for improving vegetative growth and root parameters of such economic important plant, besides, getting better plants without being forced to use chemical nutrients or synthetic growth regulators that may pollute the environment with getting a safe clean product.