Evaluation of Growth, Yield and Essential Oil of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Under Mycorrhiza, Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizer Treatments

The present study was conducted to study the effect of mycorrhiza and vermicompost biological fertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative yield of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.).

An experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatment and four replications was conducted at the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz farm in 2015-2016. The treatments were included mycorrhiza fungi (combination of Glomus mosseae, G.intraradices, G.etunicatum), vermicompost, chemical fertilizer and control. After ripening 50% of fruits, the number of umbels per plant, number of seed per umbel, seed weight per umbel and seed yield were measured. Phosphorus content and percentage of root symbiosis with mycorrhiza were measured by colorimetric and root staining methods, respectively. The essential oil of plants was extracted by water distillation method.

The results of mean comparison of data showed that the highest of number of umbels per plant (31.05), seed yield (673.24 g.m-2), percentage of mycorrhizal symbiosis (60.25%), phosphorus content of leaf (1.63 %) and essential oil content (0.44 %) were obtained in plants inoculated with mycorrhiza. Also, highest of plant height and number of seed per umbel were observed in chemical fertilizer and mycorrhiza treatments. The control plants had the least of the above traits. Among the components identified in coriander essential oil, Linalool was the most abundant component of essential oil in all treatments.

Overall, according to the results, the application of mycorrhizal fungi can be effective in increasing yield, yield components and essential oil of coriander.