Some Antioxidants Application in Relation to Lettuce Growth, Chemical Constituents and Yield

Abstract: Field trials were carried out during two successive winter seasons, using Great lakes (Head lettuce cultivar), Balady (Local lettuce cultivar) and Nader (Romain lettuce cultivar), to study the possibility of using some antioxidants i.e., selenium, antioxidant formula, vitamin C and vitamin E to improve plant growth, as well as quality and quantity of yield by increasing antioxidants concentration in lettuce leaves. All applied antioxidants showed superior effects on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area / plant, fresh and dry weights of leaves, as well as stem length and diameter. Moreover, antioxidant treatments increased total chlorophyll, total carbohydrates, total phenols, and N, P, K%. Also, all antioxidants significantly increased average head fresh and dry weights as well as head diameter. Also, treatments increased yield quality by increasing total soluble solids (TSS), vit. C and vit. E concentrations. Generally, Selenium (Se) was more effective in increasing all parameters undertaken, followed by vit. C and vit. E. Moreover, head cultivar was significantly higher parameters followed by Romain and Balady cultivars, respectively. It can be recommended that using antioxidants for lettuce production in order to improve plant growth as well as to increase antioxidants concentration in lettuce leaves as healthy food for human use