CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOID CONTENTS IN TOMATO AND CUCUMBER PLANTS IN RELATION TO DIMETHOATE AND PROFENOFOS APLLICATION

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Central Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture (EL-Shatby), University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

The insecticides, dimethoate and profenofos were sprayed on tomato and cucumber plants at the fruiting stage. Effect of these insecticides by different concentrations (half, one, and twice recommended rates) on chlorophyll “a”,”b”, total and carotenoid contents were determined after different days of spraying. Dimethoate was more effective against chlorophyll “a” of tomato and chlorophyll “b” of cucumber leaves and highly reduced total chlorophyll of both plant leaves. Chlorophyll “b” of tomato and “a” of cucumber was more sensitive to profenofos and total chlorophyll was highly reduced in both plants leaves. Profenofos and dimethoate were more active to reduce carotenoid contents of tomato than cucumber leaves.