THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF (2-CHLOROETHYL) TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE ON BARLEY

Abstract
A study was made of the effects of (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) applied to the varieties Parkland and Hannchen barley grown under controlled environmental conditions and predetermined soil moisture regimes. When applied to seedlings as either a soil drench or as a foliar spray, CCC retarded internode elongation thereby significantly reducing the height of plants as measured at maturity. A varietal difference in the response to a given treatment was evident with Parkland being more sensitive than Hannchen. Moreover, measured in terms of growth responses, application of CCC as a soil drench was more effective than as a foliar spray.Treatments in the range of 10−1–10−4 M significantly increased tiller number and seed yield on plants grown under a high moisture regime (daily watering). Under restricted soil moistures, however, neither grain yield nor plant weights (tops) were affected by CCC treatment. Treated plants grown under soil moisture stress used less water per unit weight of dry matter than did untreated plants.