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ABSTRACT
Information is scant on the effect of humic acid (HA) on physiological, antioxidant and photosynthesis attributes of gerbera plants undergoing nutrient deficiency in culture solution. Gerbera plants cv. Malibu were grown in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications, using 3 different nutrient solutions [complete nutrient solution (NSc), 25% NSc (NS1), and 50% NSc (NS2)] treated with 2 levels of humic acid [0 (HA0) and 500 mg/l (HA1)].The interaction effect of HA and NS showed that HA improved the flower number in NSc, the transpiration in NS1+HA1, photosynthesis rate in NSc+HA1, stomatal conductance (gs) in NS2, mesophyll conductance of leaves in all NS levels and photosynthetic water use efficiency in NSc+HA1. The interaction effect of nutrient solution and HA on antioxidant activity was inconclusive, malondialdehyde content was the highest in NS2 and the lowest in NS1+HA1. The peroxidase activity increased in complete nutrient solution with and without HA and there were no differences among other treatments. Superoxide dismutase activity increased in NS1 and complete nutrient solution with HA and reached the highest in NSc. Humic acid was more effective in nutrient uptake, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron (N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and Fe) in complete nutrient solution compared to NS1 and NS2. Conclusively, humic acid can compensate the nutrient deficiency stress of the culture solution in regards to protein synthesis, photosynthesis attributes regardless of the nutrient uptake of gerbera.