SOME ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL CRITERIA OF PORTULACA OLREACAE L. GROWING IN DELTIC REGION OF RIVER NILE, EGYPT

doi:10.21608/aunj.2017.221431

SOME ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL CRITERIA OF PORTULACA OLREACAE L. GROWING IN DELTIC REGION OF RIVER NILE, EGYPT

Document Type : Novel Research Articles

10.21608/aunj.2017.221431

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea L. was collected from different farmlands located beside industrial regions, polluted lands irrigated with drainage water and unpolluted lands (irrigated with River Nile water; site 9) in Dakahlia province. Soil of these sites was characterized by clay to silty texture, neutral to alkaline pH, high total soluble salts in the polluted sites. In soil samples macronutrients were arranged as Ca > Cl > Mg = Na > K > PO₄. However, in P. oleracea tissues, these nutrients accumulated in the following order: Cl = K > Mg > PO₄ > Na = Ca. Pigment contents were higher with high shoots Mg level. In contrast of soluble sugars, chl. a, b and carotenoids, soluble proteins, total free amino acids and biomass productivity were adversely affected by hydrocarbon pollution. Correlation coefficient was significantly positive between potassium of the soil with both plant tissues and soluble proteins. Furthermore, the same relation was observed between soil chlorides and Alkaloids. There was a negative correlation between soil OM and PO₄ and shoots Na and Cl. All the possible correlations were also confirmed by CCA application between soil variables and plant contents which showed silt, organic matter, Na and Ca as the most important soil variables those control this species capabilities. It is worth mentioning that P. oleracea, and may be most edible crops, suffered from the pollution caused by petroleum products and must be avoided as a nutritive.

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