INFLUENCE OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZINC SULFATE AND 6-BENZYLADENINE ON THE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ZINNIA CULTIVARS (Zinnia elegans)

This study was conducted in the lath house of the Horticulture Department Nursery, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, during 2024 to investigate the effects of different zinc sulfate at levels (0, 0.50, and 0.75% Zn) and 6-Benzyladenine concentrations (0, 50, and 100 mg L⁻¹ BA) on some chemical properties and pigments of leaves part two Zinnia cultivars, ‘Lavanda’ and ‘Rosso Scarlatta’ only anthocyanin determine in the petals of flower part. The results showed that ‘Lavanda’ recorded significantly higher values of N, P, K, and Zn contents, reaching (3.65, 0.077, 3.707, and 0.063) %, respectively, compared with ‘Rosso Scarlatta’. Lavanda cultivar also showed significantly higher photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate content, recording 22.287 mg g⁻¹, 12.435 mg g⁻¹, and 5.964%, respectively. Regarding BA concentration, spraying with 100 mg L⁻¹ resulted in the highest values of N, P, K, Zn, anthocyanin, photosynthetic pigments, and carbohydrate, reaching 3.95%, 0.096%, 4.130%, 0.077%, 205.372, 27.422 mg g⁻¹, 12.726 mg g⁻¹, and 5.753%, respectively. Similarly, spraying with Zn at 75% produced the highest values, reaching 3.78%, 0.089%, 3.951%, 0.071%, 192.925, 25.421 mg g⁻¹, 13.453 mg g⁻¹, and 5.913%, respectively. The triple interaction showed that ‘Lavanda’ treated with BA at 100 mg L⁻¹ and Zn at 75% produced significantly superior results for all measured parameters except anthocyanin. The highest anthocyanin content was recorded in ‘Rosso Scarlatta’ under BA100 mg L⁻¹ and Zn at 100%, reaching 236.233, compared with the lowest value of 116.250 in ‘Lavanda’ without BA and Zn application.