EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND APPLIED GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH, CYTOKININ PRODUCTION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF PEPPERS (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) (ARIZONA).

Abstract

Pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) were grown in field and a greenhouse in Arizona to determine the effects of water stress, root temperature, and exogenously applied growth regulators on cytokinin production and the resulting growth. Research showed that vegetative plants were significantly higher in cytokinin activity and growth parameters than fruiting plants. Also, in root-pruned fruiting plants, cytokinin activity was less than that of intact fruiting plants. In vegetative plants, the competition between removed sinks and the rest of the shoot was reduced and, hence, more cytokinin came from the roots to the shoots. Besides, additional carbohydrates were available and recycled to the roots. In respect to temperature effect, elevating temperature from 15 to 30°C had a pronounced effect of increasing the growth rate and cytokinin activity. The measured parameters declined when temperature exceeded 30°C. Temperatures between 25 and 30°C were found to be optimum. Under experimental conditions, growth regulators (Cytex® and Burst®) applied to the soil or foliage had no significant effect on growth rates or cytokinin activity in roots. Also, applying Burst® or kinetin to the nutrient medium had inconsistent and statistically nonsignificant effects on photosynthesis and transpiration.