Effect of 6-Benzylaminopurine Foliar Spray on Hordeum vulgare L. Growing in Zinc Deficient Soils

Abstract

Hordeum vulgare is an important crop of the District, Charsadda, and the natives grow the crop mainly for food and fodder purposes. The aim of the study was to observe the effect of 6-benzylaminopurine foliar spray on the two varieties i.e., local and hybrid of Hordeum vulgare growing in Zinc deficient soils. Overall growth and phytochemical composition of the two varieties were compared during the study. The soil was analyzed for the metal presence at two different depths which is found to be high at site 10 as 4.15 mg kgˉ¹ in surface soil while in sub surface soil the maximum value was recorded as 3.90 mg kgˉ^1. The data revealed that the Zn stress brought immense retardation in overall growth and bring decrease in chlorophyll production the proline content however produced in large amount as it is plants response toward stress. When the plants were supplied with 6-benzylaminopurine foliar spray it significantly decreases in negative impacts of Zn stress and shows decrease in proline production, increase in chlorophyll production, and increase in overall growth.