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Effect of Growth Regulator and Antitranspirant Chemicals on Water Requirement and Growth Components of Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) 1
Author(s) -
Cole D. F.,
Dobrenz A. K.,
Massengale M. A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1971.0011183x001100040039x
Subject(s) - gibberellic acid , medicago sativa , biology , growth regulator , horticulture , agronomy , plant growth , medicago , botany , germination , biochemistry , gene
Plants of Medicago sativa L. cult. ‘Mesa‐Sirsa’ were grown in both the greenhouse and controlled environmental growth chambers and used to evaluate the effect ot various antitranspirant and growth regulator chemicals on water requirement and growth components. Gibberellic acid (GA) significantly lowered the water requirement of alfalfa in all environments. Indoleacetic acid (IAA), (2‐chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), and dodecenylsuccinic acid (DSA) did not alter the water requirement of alfalfa. The antitranspirant chemicals did not reduce the amount of water transpired, and further DSA caused plant damage when used as a foliar spray. Gibberellic acid significantly increased the amount of stem tissue produced in all environments, which resulted in more total dry‐forage yield. Gibberellic acid had no effect on the amount of leaflet tissue produced except in experiments where GA stimulated secondary branching.