Effect of Foliar Application of Alhagi maurorum Extract on Foeniculum vulgare Growth

Abstract

Among medicinal plants humans use, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is essential due to its flavor and health benefits. A clean environment requires sustainable methods to reduce soil, water, and air pollution. Camel thorn (Alhagi maurorum) is a desert plant distributed widely in Iraq. This experiment investigated the effect of A. maurorumextract spraying on vegetative, floral, and seed numbers of F. vulgare. 0, 1.5 and 3 g L-1 concentrations of shoot root extracts of A. maurorumwere utilized as a foliar application on F. vulgare.A significant increase in studied characteristics of F. vulgare was obtained under extract treatments. Spray with 3 and 1.5 g L-1 of shoot root extracts obtained the highest number of seeds per plant. The results of the present study exhibited a potential to use A. maurorum as a natural fertilizer. Keywords: Foeniculum vulgare; Alhagi maurorum; foliar application; natural fertilizer; flavonoids; essential oil.