Effects of Marine Brown Alga Extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) Under Foliar Spraying of Methanol and Iron Fertilizers on Flower Tube Length of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in North of Iran

ABSTRACT: for study effects of alga, methanol and iron fertilizers application on length of flower tube in saffron plant, an experiment in factorial format based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Astaneh Ashrafiyeh Township located in 37° 16ʹ latitude and 49° 56ʹ longitude (north of Iran) in 2011 was conducted. Factors of experiment was consists of foliar spraying of alga in two levels (A1: control and A2: 2 g/L concentration), foliar spraying of methanol in two levels (M1: control and M2: 20% (V/V) concentration) and foliar spraying of iron fertilizers with five levels (I1: control, I2: pure iron, I3: chelate iron, I4: iron humichelate iron and I5: nano iron chelate in 2 g/L concentration). Results showed that, the effect of alga, methanol and iron fertilizers foliar spraying on length of flower tube was significant at 1% probability level. Also, the interaction effect of alga and methanol and alga and iron fertilizers on this trait showed significant differences at 1% probability level. On the other hand, the interaction effect of methanol and iron fertilizers and also, alga and methanol and iron fertilizer on flower tube length was significant in 5% probability level. The highest flower tube length was recorded from foliar spraying of alga (2 g/L), methanol (20% (v/v)) and nano chelate fertilizer (2 g/L) with 9.99 cm.