Impact of Foliar Spray of Spherical Nano-carbon and Salicylic Acid on Physiological Traits and Parthenolide Content in two Feverfew Cultivars (Tanacetum parthenium Linn. cv. Pharmasaat and Jelitto)

Background: Biotic and abiotic elicitors produce secondary metabolites and alter physiological traits of the plants by affecting some of the mechanisms within the plant cells. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of spherical nano-carbon and salicylic acid on physiological traits and paratolenolidae content in Feverfew. Methods: This research was conducted in a factorial experiment based on randomized completely design (CRD) under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was Feverfew cultivar with two levels (T.parthenium Linn. cv. Jelitto and T. parthenium Linn. cv. Pharmasaat), the second factor was foliar spray of spherical nano-carbon with 5 levels (0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/L) and the third factor was considered as foliar spray of salicylic acid with two levels (0 and 0.2 mM). Results: The results showed that the cultivars, different concentrations of spherical nano-carbon, salicylic acid and their interactions had a significant effect on some of the studied traits. Two cultivars in the content of chlorophyll a and b and parthenolide showed significant differences at P<0.01. Also, the effect of spherical nano-carbon and salicylic acid concentrations on parethenolide content of extract was significant (P <0.01). However, the highest content of parthenolide (24.22 μg/0.1 g dry matter) was observed in pharmasaat and at the concentration of 500 mg/L spherical nano-carbon without salicylic acid application. Conclusion: Application of spherical nano-carbon at concentration of 500 mg/L along with 0.2 mM salicylic acid improved physiological traits and metabolic content of both cultivars.