Foliar application of micronutrients on mother plant and its effect on seed production of two Camelina genotypes (Camelina sativa (L.))

Camelina, an oilseed plant in the Brassicaceae family, is extensively utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of micronutrient foliar application on the growth and yield traits of two camelina genotypes (Soheil cultivar and Line-69) during the periods 1400-1401 and 1401-1402 at the Agriculture Research Station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,, Iran. The experiment was conducted as a factorial design based on a completely randomized block with three replication, considering line and cultivar. The applied treatments included foliar application of iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, a mixture of micronutrients (iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate), distilled water, and a control. These treatments were applied at two stages: 50% flowering and 50% pod formation. The experiment was conducted as a factorial design based on a completely randomized block with three replication, considering line and cultivar. The results of mean comparison revealed that, over two cropping years, the highest 1000-grain weight (1.20 grams) was attained in the Soheil cultivar during the 50% flowering stage in the first crop year, following the application of manganese sulfate via foliar application. The highest number of pods per plant (214 pods) was also observed in the Soheil cultivar during the 50% flowering stage, achieved through foliar application of iron sulfate in the second crop year. Under the influence of cultivar, the highest seed yield per hectare was obtained in the Soheil cultivar (1930 kg/hectare).