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Effect of Light and Temperature on Stimulation of Vegetative and Reproductive Growth of Bean Plants by Naphthenates 1
Author(s) -
Fattah Q. A.,
Wort D. J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1970.00021962006200050007x
Subject(s) - phaseolus , photoperiodism , abscission , horticulture , germination , biology , cultivar , photosynthesis , vegetative reproduction , pollen , dry weight , botany
Bush bean plants, Phaseolus vulgaris L., cultivar Top Crop, were grown from seed for 14 days at 26/21 C day/ night, and 16.1 k‐lux (1500 ft‐c) light with a photoperiod of 14 hours. At the end of this time half the plants were sprayed with a 0.5% potassium naphthenates (KNap) solution. Treated and control plants were then grown 1 ) under the original light/temperature conditions, 2 ) at a constant temperature of 26 C with light of 16.1, 10.76, or 5.38 k‐lux, and 3 ) at a constant temperature of 15 with the three fight intensities. Juvenile growth (plant height; fresh and dry weights of roots, stems, and leaves; number of leaflets; leaflet area) and reproductive growth (number and weight of green pods per plant) were measured 21 and 35 days, respectively, after treatment. The stimulative effect of KNap on both types of growth was evident at all light/temperature combinations, but it was greater at higher temperatures and light intensities. Increments under these conditions were consistently significant at the 0.05 level. The results are consonant with a previous finding that the foliar application of KNap is followed by augmented rates of photosynthesis and greater activity of enzymes of nitrogen metabolism. The larger number of pods may have been the result of more vigorous pollen germination and reduced abscission of young fruits.