Action of plant regulators on growth, nutritional aspects, anatomy and the productivity of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Carioca)

Abstract

Pot-grown plants of Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Carioca, under greenhouse conditions, were sprayed with 50ppm of gibberellic acid, 50ppm of naphthaleneacetic acid, 1000ppm of chlormequat, 3000ppm of daminozide, 100ppm of chlorflurenol and 50ppm of Figaron. Gibberellic acid significantly increased plant height and the number of leaves, chlorflurenol decreased these parameters. Daminozide increased K level and presented a tendency to increase N compounds increasing the level of proteic nitrogen. Chlorflurenol increased K and Ca levels, and Figaron also increased Ca content. Histological analysis of changes induced by chlorf lurenol showed an accumulation of starch grains on medullary parenchyma cells of petioles in treated dry beans. The yield of dry beans was inhibited by chlorflurenol and decreased by naphthaleneacetic acid, chlormequat and daminozide.