Effect of Planting Dates and ZnO Nanoparticles Spraying on the Some Growth Indicators, Aromatic Oil and Its Content of Active Compounds of Pimpinella anisum L. Plant

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during a winter season of 2023 in the botanical garden of the College of Basic Education - Al-Mustansiriya University to knowing the effect of planting dates and ZnO nanoparticles spraying on the some growth indicators, aromatic oil and its content of active compounds of anise plant. A split-plots arrangement according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three replications. The main plots contained two planting dates (1/11 and 15/11), whereas the sub plots contained spraying of two concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (5 and 10 mg L^-1) in addition to spraying of distilled water only (0 mg nano-Zn L^-1). The results revealed that second planting date (15/11) was significantly superiority in the plant content of nitrogen (15.65 mg N g^-1), plant content of phosphorous (9.72 mg P g^-1), plant height (73.33 cm), main branches number (20.56 branch plant^-1) and fruits number (20.33 fruit inflorescence^-1). Otherwise the first date (1/11) was significantly superiority in the 1000-fruits weight (3.89 g) and aromatic oil percentage (5.26%). As well, the spraying of ZnO nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 mg L^-1 was significantly superiority in plant height (73.17 cm) and 1000-fruits weight (4.21 g) and aromatic oil percentage (5.66%), while the  spraying of ZnO nanoparticles at a concentration of 5 mg L^-1 was significantly superiority and gave a highest average of the plant content of nitrogen (14.98 mg N g^-1), plant content of phosphorous (9.66 mg P g^-1), main branches number (19.67 branch plant^-1), fruits number (19.33 fruit inflorescence^-1). Further, the results of HPLC analysis showed that the percentages of active compounds of anise aromatic oil were varied by the effect of planting date and spraying of ZnO nanoparticles.