Physiological manipulation of source limitation In determinate and indeterminate pigeonpea Through nutrients and plant Growth regulators

Abstract

newlineABSTRACT newlinePHYSIOLOGICAL MANIPULATION OF SOURCE LIMITATION IN newlineDETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE PIGEONPEA (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) newlineTHROUGH NUTRIENTS AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS newlineby newlineG. KARUPPUSAMY newlineDegree : Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture) in Plant Physiology newlineChairman : Dr. P. Jeyakumar newlineProfessor (Crop Physiology) and newlineDeputy Registrar (Education) newlineTamil Nadu Agricultural University newlineCoimbatore - 641 003 newline2021 newlinePulses are a part of vegetarian diet around the world due to high protein content. newlineAmong the pulses, pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is one of the most important newlineand extensively grown pulse crops of India. The yield of pigeonpea in India is very low newlinedue to its indeterminate growth habit, poor source-sink relationship and due to several newlineenvironmental factors. Plant growth regulators and nutrients play a significant role in newlinemodifying the growth, flower production and pod set of pigeonpea. Nutrio-hormonal newlinemanipulation makes the plant capable for redistributing the photo- assimilates into newlinedifferent organs of the plant and brings out a better source-sink relationship and results in newlineimproved yield. In the present investigation, manipulating the source limitation in pigeon newlinepea is studied through the application of PGRs and nutrients and their influence on newlinegrowth, physiology and yield in determinate and indeterminate pigeonpea genotypes. newlineFoliar application of growth retardants viz., Mepiquat chloride (500 ppm) and newlineChlormequat chloride (500 ppm) during vegetative stage followed by application of newlinegrowth regulators and nutrients at flowering stage showed significant influence on newlinemorphological, physiological, biochemical, nutrient and yield characters of both the newlinegenotypes. newlineThe combined effect of Chlormequat chloride (500 ppm) and Nutrient consortia newlineI (1%) treatment showed significant increase in root length, leaf area and total dry matter newlineaccumulation compared to control. Whereas, plant height was found higher in control newlineplants and the foliar application of Nutrient consortia I (1%) favourably influenced th