1Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh-362001, India.
2Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh-362001, India.
A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of salicylic acid (SA) and brassinolide (BS) applied as foliar spray at vegetative and reproductive stages on yield and quality of chickpea seeds. The results showed significant differences in seed yield and quality attributes viz. protein, methionine and carbohydrate between untreated and treated chickpea seeds. The seed yield increased significantly by treatment with both regulators sprayed at both stages; the maximum yield enhancement was observed in plants sprayed with 40 ppm BS at reproductive stage. Carbohydrate content remained either same or decreased except in the 50 ppm SA sprayed crop at vegetative stage. The protein content decreased with brassinolide treatment but increased in response to salicylic acid. The methionine content increased significantly due to spray with salicylic acid and brassinolide at both stages. Quality improvement in chickpea seeds in terms of increased content of metabolites studied coupled with higher seed yield point out to the beneficial effect of salicylic acid. Yield enhancement was observed with the application of brassinolide.
Brassionolide, carbohydrate, chickpea, methionine, protein, salicylic acid, seed yield
