RESPONSE OF Taxodium disticum L. SEEDLINGS TO FOLIAR APPLICATION OF FOLIC ACID AND/OR α-TOCOPHEROL

Taxodium disticum (L.) Rich) belongs to family cupressaceae, it is cultivated as ornamental tree, its wood is used in many industrial wood products for its resilience and resistance to decay, the heartwood is extremely rot and termite resistant. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effect of different vitamins on growth and different chemical components in many plants. The experiment was carried out during 2019 and 2020 at the greenhouse of the National Research Centre. The results of this study showed that the foliar application of folic acid at 50 µM significantly increased No. of leaves/ plant, No. of branches/ plant, leaves fresh and dry weights, photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids and phenols in leaves. Whereas, foliar application of α-tocopherol at concentration 200mM significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, stem fresh and dry weights, wood density, carbohydrate content in all plant organs, nutrient elements content (N, P, K) in leaves and stems and crude protein in leaves. Whilst; root length, root fresh and dry weights and nutrient elements content (N, P, K) in roots were significantly affected by application of α-tocopherol at concentration 400mM as compared to untreated plants in both seasons. The obtained results of this study was the positive effect of folic acid and α-tocopherol. Where, the treatment of α-tocopherol showed highly significant in most vegetative and chemical parameters followed by folic acid at 50 µM which showed positive effect in some other parameters.