INFLUENCE OF ZINC ON SEED PRODUCTION AND FATS CONTENT OF BLACK SEED (NIGELLA SATIVA L.)

Zinc (Zn) deficiency affects the metabolic and catalytic activities in plants inhibiting the protein synthesis, indirectly led the plant to senescence. Zn absorbed by the plants through leaves influences the growth and development; hence plays an inhibitory role for the process of aging or senescence. To study the influence of different Zn levels (0, 50, 65, 80 and 95mg L-1) and time of its application as foliar spray (30, 50 and 70 days after transplantation) on seed production and fats content of Nigella sativa L., a field experiment was carried out at Horticulture Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Results of the current research showed that Zn @ 95mg L-1 significantly increased the plant height (cm), chlorophyll content (SPAD), number of branches plant-1, number of capsules plant-1, capsule length (mm), weight of seeds capsule-1 (mg), number of seeds capsule-1, 1000 seeds weight (g) and fats content (%). The foliar application of Zn, 50 days after transplantation resulted in maximum plant height (cm), number of branches plant-1, number of capsules plant-1, capsule length (mm), weight of seeds capsule-1 (mg), number of seeds capsule-1, 1000 seeds weight (g) and fat content (%). It could be concluded that Zn when applied at 95mg L-1 improved most of the studied attributes of Nigella sativa as compared to the application of Zn at 50, 65 and 80 mg L-1 respectively. Similarly spray of Zn, 50 days after transplantation was found best time of application for the production of Nigella sativa under the climatic conditions of Peshawar valley.