Comparative Productivity and Seed Nutrition of Cotton by Plant Growth Regulation under Deficient and Adequate Boron Conditions

Abstract

-Plant growth regulators (PGRs) potentially improve the productivity and nutritional quality of crops through modulation of morphology, physiology and nutrient dynamics within plants. However, the effect of PGRs may differ under environments with deficient and adequate nutrients. Here the role of mepiquat chloride (MC) on the yield and seed nutritional quality of cotton was explored under boron (B) deficiency and adequate conditions in a two-year field study. Mepiquat chloride was foliar-applied at different dosages (0 and 70 mg L -1 ) and growth stages (squaring and flowering) and B was applied into soil (0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 kg ha -1 ) to establish B deficiency and adequate levels. Seed cotton yield and seed nutritional quality were substantially higher under adequate B conditions, compared to B deficiency. Nonetheless, MC applications improved the seed cotton yield, seed oil yield, seed protein yield and concentration of seed mineral nutrients (N, P, K, B, Zn and Fe except for Mn) under both B deficiency and adequate conditions. Nonetheless, the improvement in all traits caused by MC application was greater under adequate B conditions (2-2.5 kg ha -1 B), compared to B deficiency conditions. Furthermore, the application of MC at squaring proved more beneficial in improving the seed cotton yield and nutritional quality, compared to the flowering stage. In conclusion, MC application improves seed cotton yield and cotton seed nutritional quality under both deficient and adequate B conditions, through an improved nutrient accumulation in seed tissues; however, the efficacy of MC is affected by B deficiency. Keywords

Effect of Plant Distribution Patterns and Growth Regulators on Morphological, Yield and Technological Characters of Egyptian Cotton

“…The increment in oil yield due to applying growth regulators could be attributed to their roles in increasing cotton seed yield /fed and oil percentage in the seeds. In this respect, oil yield/ha was found to be increased by spraying MC at rate of 70 mg/L in comparison with control treatment as previously reported by Zohaib et al (2018).…”

“…Application of MC + NAA caused an increase in the protein yield/fed amounted to 33.76 and 37.60% more than the untreated plants in the first and second seasons, respectively. In this concern, Zohaib et al (2018) found that application of 70 mg MC /L increased protein yield/ha compared to untreated plants.…”

“…Most growth retardants act by inhibiting gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis. It is quite apparent that application of growth regulators could increase cotton productivity (Kassem et al, 2009, Abdel-Aal et al, 2011and Parveen et al, 2017 and improve fiber quality (Echer and Rosolem, 2017) as well as seed quality (Zohaib et al, 2018).…”

Engineered Nanomaterials for Improving the Nutritional Quality of Agricultural Products: A Review

“…The results showed that ZnSO 4 could improve the growth, nutritional quality, and productivity of Washington navel orange trees [ 35 ]. Recent research has demonstrated that the use of mepiquat chloride (MC) can significantly boost the nutrient content and biological accumulation in seeds under the control circumstances of boron deficiency and sufficient boron, boosting the yield and nutritional quality of seed cotton [ 36 ]. Additionally, the productivity and quality of tomatoes can be increased by combining biochar with both organic and inorganic fertilizers [ 37 ].…”