Effect of foliar application with some marine algae and Licorice extracts on fruit quality of apple c.v starking delicious

Abstract

The research was carried out in Tartous Governorate, during the two growing seasons 2019-2020, on the 16 years old delicious Starking variety of apple trees, using foliar spraying with solid seaweed extracts (Alga600) of (2-4-6 g/l)  and liquid seaweed extracts (Enkoseaweed)  of (2-4-6 ml/l) concentrations, and licorice extract of (2-4- 8 ml/l) concentrations, beside basic ground fertilization. The results were the following: Foliar spray treatments improved the physical and chemical characteristics of fruits in general, treatment of the cultivar Starken Delicious with Enkoseaweed 6 ml/l outperformed other treatments in terms of: fruit weight = (173.2 g) ,fruit axis = (6.93 cm) compared with the control standard (158.7g, 6.08 cm) respectiviely, Mean while treatment with Algl600 6g/l outperformedother treatments in terms of :soluble solids percentage (13.17%) , total sugars percentage = (12.7%) , acidity percentage which was recorded (0.25%) , percentage of dry matter in fruit = (25.43%) ,the percentage of dry matter in the leaves = (45.88%) compared with the control standard (10.73, 9.8, 0.45,16.28,39.72%) respectiviely, and licorice extract 8 ml/l outperformed other treatments in terms of fruit size :  (180.3 cm³) ,licorice extract outperformed other treatments in terms of fruit diameter = (6.33 cm) compared with the control standard (168.8cm³ 5.72 cm) respectiviely.