Abstract
The growth behaviour and yield formation of crop plants are governed by their genetic potential, climatic conditions, and the supply of nutrients. Specific control of these processes by the application of plant bioregulators of natural or synthetic origin is increasingly emerging in recent years. Because of their specific properties in regulating shoot growth, the plant growth retardants have become the most widely used group of bioregulators in agricultural and horticultural practice. For detailed summaries of commercially realized and possible future applications of growth retardants the reader is referred to reviews by Davieset al.1988, Rademacher 1991, and Hoffmann (this volume). When applied in appropriate concentrations growth retardants modify plant architecture in a typical fashion Davieset al.1988; Fletcher and Hofstra, 1988. Internode elongation and thus plant height are reduced without affecting the number of internodes and leaves. Concomitantly, the green colour of the foliage is intensified and leaf thickness and epicuticular wax may increase. In contrast to the shoot, the growth retardants maintain or slightly enhance root formation. Therefore, the root-shoot ratio is clearly changed in favour of the root.
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Grossmann, K. (1992). Plant growth retardants: Their mode of action and benefit for physiological research. In: Karssen, C.M., van Loon, L.C., Vreugdenhil, D. (eds) Progress in Plant Growth Regulation. Current Plant Science and Biotechnology in Agriculture, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2458-4_97
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2458-4_97
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