Physiological effect of some bioregulators on vegetative growth, yield and chemical constituents of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides (Burm) Stapf. and Hubb)

Abstract

A field study was conducted to estimate the effect of salicylic acid (1, 2 and 3 mM), sitosterol as well as putrescine concentrations (0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mM) on vegetative growth characters, yield and its components and grain biochemical constituents of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides (Burm) Stapf. and Hubb) at elongation and milky stages. The application of bioregulators led to significant increases of vegetative growth characters such as plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, dry weight/plant, specific leaf weight, crop growth rate and net assimilation rate except plant height, which significantly reduced with increasing salicylic acid concentration Increasing vegetative character values were obtained at salicylic acid (3 mM), sitosterol or putrescine (0.15 mM) at elongation and milky stages of pearl millet plantsyield and its components, i.e., ear length, ear diameter, grain yield/plant, grain yield/feddan, crop index and 100-grain weight of pearl millet were significantly increased at certain level of applied bioregulators application Salicylic acid (3 mM), sitosterol (0.15 mM) and putrescine (0.15 mM) gave the highest values of the previous yield components. Bioregulators varied of their effect on grain biochemical constituents of pearl millet plant. Sitosterol (0.15 mM) was more effective on crude protein and total carotenoids while putrescine (0.15 mM) was also more effective on total sugars and oil content of grains. Grain yield/feddan showed highly significant and positive correlation with the majority of growth parameters under sitosterol and putrescine application but not with salicylic acid treatments. © 2007 Academic Journals.