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Alachlor: A new potent antitranspirant on maize plants

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Proceedings / Indian Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Foliar application of alachlor, 2-chloro-2-6-, diethyl-N-(methoxy methyl) acetanilide, at 20 mg/l on two-week-old plants ofZea mays L. produced remarkable partial inhibition of stomatal opening and significant reduction in the rate of transpiration. Antitranspirant activity of a single foliar application of alachlor persisted for twenty days after treatment. The rates of transpiration and apparent photosynthesis with alachlor treatment were compared with those of phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) treatments. Treatment with alachlor produced higher rates of photosynthesis, increased growth rate and yield, while PMA-treated plants exhibited a reverse trend. Alachlor thus proved to be an effective yield increasing antitranspirant under the experimental conditions used.

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Santakumari, M., Reddy, C.S. & Rama Das, V.S. Alachlor: A new potent antitranspirant on maize plants. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 86, 143–150 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050940

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03050940

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