Department of Botany, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Burdwan University, Burdwan-713104 West Bengal, India
Foliar application of dikegulac sodium (DK), a plant growth retardant, at 100, 250 and 500 μg/ml at sapling stage of safflower plants increased branch number while seed yield was increased at 100 and 250 μg/ml only. Application at preheading stage decreased both branch number and yield per plant. Growth retardants CCC (500, 1000 and 2000 μg/ml) and SADH (1000, 2000 and 5000 μg/ml) increased branch number when applied at sapling stage but decreased the same when application was made at preheading stage. In both the cases, however, increase in yield was noted. Growth retardants maintained the level of chlorophyll, protein and RNA contents of the leaves at a higher level for a longer duration suggesting the senescence defferal effect of those chemicals.
