Foliar spray of asparagine amino acid on biochemical and morphological traits of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) plants under greenhouse conditions

Foliar feeding of plants can effectively supplement soil fertilization. Amino acids can influence in the form of directly or indirectly to physiological processes in plant growth and development. In this project the effect of asparagine (ASN) amino acid applied a foliar spray on some morphological and physiological traits was investigated in garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.). The effects of foliar application of different levels of ASN including 0 (distilled water), 50, 100 and 150 mg l(-1) were tested in a randomized complete design with three replications at research greenhouse of University of Guilan, Iran. The results show that ASN application exerted a significant effect on the most studied indices. The amounts of plant height leaf and stem fresh weights and leaf and stem dry weights in ASN-treated plants was more than control. Meanwhile, the highest values plant height parameter was obtained from the application of ASN at the rate of 150 mg l(-1). Furthermore, the highest amount of leaf and stem fresh weights and leaf and stem dry weights were found by using ASN at the rate of 100 mg l(-1). Moreover, garden cress leaf pigments (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) in the level of 100 mg l(-1) ASN were higher than other treatments. Also, ASN spraying, especially in the concentration of 150 mg l(-1), improved the leaf nutrients content (N and P). Generally, these greenhouse results suggest that the use of ASN can be considered as an appropriate growth regulator in garden cress medicinal plant cultivation.