Ethephon-induced enhancement of seedling development

摘要

The growth and development of agronomically important plants which are cultivated under conditions of low water stress or drought, is enhanced by an application of relatively low concentrations of ethephon to the seed or to the growing plant at a stage of growth between the cotyledon stage and the six-leaf stage. Application of the cytokinins is effective to elicit one or more effects in the resultant plant including increased lateral root development, increased root hair development along the seminal roots, thickening of the hypocotyl, increased rate of leaf development, and enhancement of the reproductive process (i.e., increased fruiting or increased rate of development of fruiting branches).