Effect of Organic Fertilization and AMF Inoculation on Yield and Floral Quality Parameters of Common Marigold

Abstract

In Greece common marigold is one of the major medicinal plants widely used in cosmetics, perfumes and the pharmaceutical industry. A field experiment was conducted at Komotini, Greece, to compare the effect of organic and conventional fertilization combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on yield and floral qualitative characteristics of the common marigold during the 2015 growing season. The experiment was set up as a split plot design with three replicates, three main plots (fertilization treatments, inorganic, organic and untreated) and two sub-plots (addition/non-addition of commercial mycorrhiza of the genus Glomus spp.). Floral fresh and dry weight as well as total phenolic and flavonoid content of the dried flowers were recorded. Data analysis confirmed no significant correlation between fresh/dry floral yield, total phenolic and flavonoid content of the dried flowers and type of fertilization. The results also demonstrate a tendency of increase of the fresh or dry weight of the flowers when the commercial mycorrhiza is applied but it is not statistically significant.

Keywords

• Calendula officinalis, fertilization, flavonoids, arbuscular mycorrhiza, polyphenols