Effects of iron chelate and nano chelate on some physiological and morphological characteristics of chicory (Cichorium intybusL.) in aeroponic system

In Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), leaf and root are the most important medicinal organs containing valuable secondary metabolites. In this research, the effect of foliar application of iron chelate and nano chelate fertilizers on morpho-physiological characteristics of chicory was studied in the aeroponic system.This system is a very suitable method for investigating the effect of nutrients and improving growth and development in different plants under controlled conditions. Experimental treatments included water (control), iron chelate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g l-1) and iron nano chelate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g l-1) fertilizers foliar application. Foliar spray was carried out at three stages including 20, 40 and 60 days after seed culture in the aeroponic system on leaf and root ina completely randomized design with five replications. After six months, some morphological and physiological traits were evaluated. The results of ANOVA indicated that the effect of different treatments was significant on plant height, root length, number and area of leaves, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, photosynthetic pigments and iron content of root and shoot. The results of mean comparison showed that using 1.5 g l-1 of iron nano chelate resulted in the highest plant height (173.5 cm), root length (139.7 cm), root (65.2 g) and shoot (86.1 g) dry weight, leaf area (3448.5 mm2), chlorophylls a (2.43 mg g-1) and b (1.27 mg g-1) and carotenoid (1.25 mg g-1). The control treatment produced the lowest plant height (121.5 cm), root length (92.3 cm), root (15.1 g) and shoot (50.1 g) dry weight, leaf area (2259.6 mm2), chlorophylls a (1.46 mg g-1) and b (0.85 mg g-1) and carotenoid (0.76 mg g-1). In general, the results of this experiment showed a positive effect of iron nano chelate (with a concentration of 1.5 g l-1) foliar spray on the traits studied.