Effect of an organo ‐ mercurial fungicide, chlormequat and decenylsuccinic acid on frost hardiness and seedling diseases of oats

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Treating oat seeds of ten cultivars with an organo‐mercurial fungicide (Ceresan) and a dust formulation of the growth regulator chlormequat (2% a.i.) increased survival of seedlings growing under natural and simulated winter conditions. Treatment increased frost hardiness in less‐hardy cultivars, increased soluble sugars in stem base tissues and protected them from attack by soil fungi. It also increased root length in some cultivars but did not affect leaf area. Foliar applications of 10‐3m decenylsuccinic acid did not increase frost hardiness and also increased disease on stem base tissues. The possibility that sugar concentration may influence frost‐ and disease‐resistance of seedlings is discussed.