A Master’s thesis at the College of Agriculture examined the effect of foliar spraying with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and phosphorus on the growth, yield, and bioactive compound content of two spinach cultivars.
The College of Agriculture at the University of Diyala held a defense session for the Master’s thesis titled:
“Effect of Foliar Spraying with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Phosphorus on the Growth, Yield, and Bioactive Compound Content of Two Spinach Cultivars.”
The study, conducted by Ahmed Kamal Mohammed Rasheed, yielded several key findings:
- Spinach plants responded most positively to foliar spraying with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) at a concentration of 100 mg/L, which significantly reduced oxalic acid content in the leaves while enhancing their bioactive compound content.
- Spraying with ALA at 50 mg/L improved most vegetative growth traits and yield.
- Applying phosphorus at 2 mL/L reduced oxalic acid content in spinach leaves while improving vegetative growth, yield, and bioactive compound levels.
- The Egyptian cultivar exhibited greater responsiveness to the foliar application treatments than the local cultivar, demonstrating superior vegetative traits, higher mineral content, and lower oxalic acid levels in the leaves.
Recommendations:
- Foliar spraying with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid at 100 mg/L and phosphorus at 2 mL/L is recommended for enhancing bioactive compounds in spinach leaves while reducing oxalic acid content.
- The Egyptian cultivar is recommended for cultivation in Iraq due to its lower oxalate content, higher bioactive compound levels, and superior vegetative growth and yield performance.
