Evaluation of Two Plant Growth Regulators from LT Biosysn

Abstract

A single field study was conducted during the 2004 cotton growing season at the University of Arizona Safford Agricultural Center to evaluate the effect of two plant growth regulators (PGRs) manufactured by LT Biosyn Inc. on the growth, development, yield, and fiber quality of cotton grown in the southeastern region of the state. This test was designed as a follow up study to work that was performed in 2003 on a grower cooperator site that demonstrated positive lint yield responses to the use of one of the PGRs used in this project. This was an eight treatment test involving the application of two PGRs, HappyGroTM (HG) and MegaGroTM (MG). The two formulations are intended to have different effects on plant growth and development. The HG formulation is a kinetin based product designed to enhance cell division and differentiation. The MG formulation is designed to enhance root growth early in the season. Several treatment combinations were designed to investigate varying scenarios of application of these two products alone and in conjunction with each other. The test included a control and each treatment was replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Plant measurements were collected throughout the season to look for differences in plant growth and development. Lint yield was estimated by harvesting the entire plot and weighing the seedcotton with a weigh wagon equipped with load cells. Sub samples were collected for fiber quality and percent lint determinations. Plant measurements revealed extremely high fruit retention levels throughout the entire season with end of season levels near 75%. This high fruit retention resulted in very low vigor. Under these conditions, while lint yield was extremely high for this region (1300-1600 lbs. lint per acre), no statistical differences were observed among treatments. Fiber quality measurements also revealed no significant differences.