RESPONSE OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS LAM. TO SOME NATURAL EXTRACTS AT THE EARLY GROWTH STAGES 2- CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE PLANTS

The experimental trial was consummated under saran house of 65% shading performed at the nursery of Horticulture Research Institute, Giza, Egypt during two successive seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014) with the aim of improving plant quality at the early growth stages of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. by studying the effect of treating plants with some natural botanical extracts (Moringa oleifera Lam., Thymus vulgaris L. and Majorana hortensis Moench) with different levels (0, 5 and 10%) besides, the combinations 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 Artocarpus hetrophyllus Lam. 14-15 cm height with 4-5 leaves till June 20th of the following year at 15 days interval. The plants were grown in sand + peatmoss mixture (1:1, v/v). The results emphasized that most plants which received the highest natural extract level (10%) died after about 6 times of spraying. So, the corresponding data of such treatments were excluded. Meanwhile, using either moringa extract at 5% or the combination of marjoram + thyme extracts at 2.5% proved their mastery in improving plant chemical constituents at the terminate of experiment (July,5th) as that treating plants with moringa extract at 5% followed by that of the combination of marjoram + thyme extracts at 2.5% were the best treatments used for improving all the components which were measured in this respect (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids, total carbohydrates, N, P, K and protein in leaves). From the aforementioned results, it could be recommended to use either moringa extract at 5% or the combination of marjoram + thyme extras at 2.5% for improving chemical constituents of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. at the early growth stages of such plants besides, getting better plants without being forced to use chemical nutrients or synthetic growth regulators that may contaminate the environment with getting a safe clean product.