Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture and Horticulture Their Role and Commercial Uses

About this book

As agriculture becomes more mechanized and science increases the possibilities for using inputs to enhance production, the role of PGRs becomes more vital. Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture and Horticulture provides agriculture professionals and researchers with the information needed to effectively tap these versatile resources to enhance crop production. Through discussions of the "classical five" phytohormones--gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid, and auxins--and the growing number of nontraditional PGRs such as oligosaccharins and brassinosteroids, Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture and Horticulture reviews past and present uses of PGRs in managing crop yield and offers some speculation on future directions. Detailed discussions on the use of PGRs in, for example, grain, ornamental, and citrus crops, introduce readers to strategies for enhancing crop quantity and quality, for improving the postproduction quality of life of perishable plants, and for crop load management, respectively. The book also includes informative visuals, such as tables of common, chemical, and trade names of different commercially available PGRs; diagrams of various PGR processes; as well as before-and-after pictures illustrating the effects of PGRs. Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture and Horticulture is a comprehensive text covering the role of plant growth regulators in: root formation manipulating yield potential plant stress protection ornamental horticulture postharvest life of ornamentals manipulating fruit development and storage quality citriculture reducing fruit drop bloom-thinning strategies If the history of agriculture, which is over 10,000 years old, was condensed into a twenty-four-hour span, science-based plant breeding would be only about fifteen minutes old. Still, the role of PGRs in agriculture is modest compared to other agrochemicals, such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides. Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture and Horticulture is an invaluable guide to the varied roles filled by PGRs in the attainment of higher-quality, better-yielding crops.

Contents

Contents About the Editor Contributors Preface Chapter 1. Control of Root Formation by Plant Growth Regulators Introduction and Historical Perspective Plant Growth Regulators Involved in Root Formation and Development Effect of Plant Growth Regulators in Root Initiation Future Perspectives Chapter 2. Manipulating Yield Potential in Cereals Using Plant Growth Regulators Plant Growth Regulators in Cereal Production: History and Present-Day in a Nutshell How Do Plant Regulators Work Possibilities for Manipulating Formation and Realization of Yield Potential Modifying Root Growth and Seedling Establishment Modifying Straw Characteristics PGR Effects on Stem Elongation and Lodging Resistance PGR Effects on Buildup of Stem Reserves Enhancing Buildup of Stem Reserves with Plant Growth Regulators Modifying Tillering and Number of Heads Per Unit Area PGR Effects on Tiller Growth and Yield Modifying Floret, Grain, and Spikelet Set Modifying Grain-Filling Rate Modifying Duration of Phenophases and Senescence Processes Potential of Unconventional Plant Growth Regulatory Compounds for Enchancing Yield Formation Some Future Prospects Concluding Remarks Chapter 3. Regulation of Gibberellins Is Crucial for Plant Stress Protection Introduction Inhibitors of GA Biosynthesis The Triazoles Non-Chemical Regulation of Gibberellin Summary Chapter 4. Plant Growth Retardants in Ornamental Horticulture Introduction Growth-Retardant Chemicals and Their Mode of Action Control of Plant Height Efficacy and Method of Application Uptake, Movement, and Persistence in Plants Phytotoxicity Effect on Flowering Plant Physiological Responses Future Trends Chapter 5. Role of Growth Regulators in the Postharvest Life of Ornamentals Postharvest Life of Ornamentals Factors Affecting the Postharvest Life of Ornamentals Growth Regulators and the Postharvest Life of Ornamentals Chapter 6. Manipulating Fruit Development and Storage Quality by Using Growth Regulators Introduction Thinning Fruit Development Fruit Drop Fruit Ripening Storage Quality Conclusions Chapter 7. Role of PGRs in Citriculture Introduction Procedure for ABA, IAA, and GA Analyses Endogenous Phytohormones in Flowers Changes of Phytohormone Levels in Fruitlets Abscission and Phytohormones of Fruitlets Chapter 8. Reducing Fruit Drop in Lychee with PGR Sprays Introduction Fruit Growth and Development Fruitlet Abscission Pattern Reduction of Fruitlet Abscission with PGR Sprays Conclusion Chapter 9. Chemical Bloom Thinning of Pome and Stone Fruits Introduction Reasons for Bloom Thinning Strategies of Crop Load Management Unresolved Problems Index Reference Notes Included

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