EFFECTS OF SOIL AND FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZINC ON SOME GROWTH CHARACTRISTICS AND ESSENTIAL OILS OF COSTMARY (TANACETUM BALSAMITA L.)

A pot experiment in randomized complete block design was conducted to investigate theinfluence of zinc application methods (soil and foliar application) and concentrations (1 and 2 mg kg-1 in soil application and 1 and 3 g l-1 in foliar application methods) on the growth parameters, essential oil contents, yield and composition in costmary (Tanacetum balsamita L.). The aerial part of plants was harvested at flowering stage and air dried under shade condition. The essential oil of air dried organs was extracted by hydrodistillation method using a Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The results showed that the effect of zinc application on growth parameters wassignificant. Zinc application caused an increase in fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and leaf area and the highest increase was observed with soil application of 2 mg kg-1. The effect of zinc application on essential oil content was not significant but increased essential oil yield significantly. The highest increase in essential oil content and yield was belonged to 2 mg kg-1 of soil application. The results of essential oil analysis showed that 20 components were identified in the costmary essential oil. Carvone and α-thujone were main components of essential oil and they showed little variation under zinc application.