Assistant Professor University of the Punjab Lahore Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Body of Abstract:
Purpose: The genus Mentha has wonderful antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant and plant growth promoting activity. The present study is an effort to investigate the role of mint hydrosol in promoting growth of tomato plants. Stem cuttings of uniform size from healthy plants were planted in pots.
Material and
Methods: The well-established tomato plants were treated with different concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 %) of freshly prepared mint hydrosol as foliar sprays twice a week. The hydrosol was applied for six weeks. Increased root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight of root and shoot were seen in case of 50 and 100 % hydrosol treatment.
Results: There was a significant increase in number of flowers, number of leaves and fruits after 6 weeks of treatment with 50 and 100 % hydrosol. Size and weight of the fruit was also higher in case of tomato plants treated with 100 % mint hydrosol. Activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were also enhanced by treatment with 100 % hydrosol.
Conclusion: So, it can be concluded that application of mint hydrosol enhances the growth and antioxidant activity in tomato.