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Role of Foliar Growth Retardants on Source Sink Relationship and Photosynthate Partitioning in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Genotypes

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Abstract

Plant metabolism can be regulated by the exogenous application of growth retardants which ultimately affects yield and yield attributes. The effect of foliar application of plant growth retardants such as mepiquat chloride (200 mL/ac), ethrel (200 ppm) and stance (200 mL/ac) was observed in two pigeonpea genotypes, i.e. PAU 881 and AL 201, at 60, (60 + 75) and 75 days after sowing (DAS). The effect of foliar spray treatment i.e. ethrel at 200 ppm at (60 + 75) DAS was significant on source-sink strength and dry matter partitioning in both genotypes especially on PAU 881. Leaves of plants treated with ethrel at (60 + 75) DAS exhibited higher total chlorophyll content (15.56%) and leaf area (10.61%), which increased the photosynthates that would eventually be utilized for grain production. Total soluble sugars (2.86 and 49.34%) and starch (27.01 and 27.13%) in leaves and stem increased with foliar applications of ethrel at (60 + 75) DAS, respectively. In the foliar treatment, the yield attributes, i.e. harvest index and number of pods per plant, were positively correlated with the leaf area (r = 0.76 and r = 0.72, respectively). Principal component analysis and regression analysis conferred an increase in sugar content in the leaf and stem, suggesting the role of growth retardants in altering the pathway of photosynthate production and increasing yield.

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Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

    M. Kaur

  2. Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

    N. Johal

  3. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

    J. Kaur

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Contributions

Dr. J. Kaur provided the lab facility, chemicals and designed the experiments. M. Kaur handled the field experiment, performend biochemical analysis and collected all data. Dr. N. Johal helped in writing the manuscript, statistical analysis and proofreading of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to M. Kaur.

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Abbreviations: APW, total free amino acid content in developing pod wall; AP, total free amino acid content in developing pod; BOA at M, biomass accumulation at maturity; BOA at PI, biomass accumulation at pod initiation; DAS, days after sowing; HI, harvest index; LA, leaf area; LAI, leaf area index; LSR, leaf shoot ratio; PPW, total soluble protein content in pod wall; PP, total soluble protein content in developing pods; SL, total soluble sugar content in leaves; SS, total soluble sugar content in stem; STL, starch in leaves; STS, starch in stem; 1000SW, thousand seed weight.

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Kaur, M., Johal, N. & Kaur, J. Role of Foliar Growth Retardants on Source Sink Relationship and Photosynthate Partitioning in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Genotypes. Russ J Plant Physiol 70, 221 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443723601404

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443723601404

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