Effect of some medicinal and algal extracts on some vegetative and biochemical growth characteristics of sunflower plants under water stress conditions

Abstract

To investigate the effect of drought stress in presence or absence algal or medicinal plant extract on shoot and root length, pigments, phenol, proline content and enzymatic responses of Helianthus annuus L Var. Sakha 53 a field experiment based on the completely randomized design was conducted. The results showed the important role of olea extracts and Salix alba leaves extract in decreased the harmful effect of drought stress on growth characters (shoot and root lengths and fresh weight of shoot and root). Spirulina platensis extracts caused significant improved of chlorophyll content, total soluble carbohydrate, phenol and protein compared with the stress sample. Salix alba and Psidium guajava leaves extracts caused significant increase in total soluble carbohydrate, phenol and protein. Algal and medicinal plants extracts shows significant decrease in proline and antioxidant enzymes content. These results confirm the greater role these treatments in drop the harmful effect of drought stress on sunflower plants.