M.A. Thesis:

Response of yield and yield components of chickpea to concentration and time of foliar application of 6-benzylaminopurine

Abstract: In order to evaluate the effect of concentration and time of foliar application of 6-benzylaminopurine on yield and yield components of chickpea, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out on Sabzevar, Iran. Experimental factors included concentration of BAP at four levels of 0 (control), 25, 50 and 100 mg/l and time of foliar application at three levels of vegetative growth, beginning of reproductive growth and two foliar applications in vegetative growth and beginning of reproductive growth. The results showed that foliar application of BAP reduced the plant height of chickpea, so that the maximum plant height was observed in the control treatment and the lowest was observed at concentration of 100 mg/l BAP. Foliar application of BAP increased number of lateral branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and harvest index. The highest 100-seed weight was observed at concentration of 100 mg/l BAP, which was significantly higher than the control treatment and other concentrations of BAP. The effect of BAP foliar application time on all studied characteristics was significant. Foliar application of BAP in the vegetative stage and also its two foliar applications in vegetative growth and beginning of reproductive growth stages caused a significant decrease in plant height and a significant increase in 100-seed weight compared to foliar application in the beginning of reproductive growth. The highest number of lateral branches and number of pods per plant was observed with foliar application of 100 mg/l BAP at the vegetative growth stage. However, the highest grain yield and biological yield were produced with two foliar applications of 100 mg/l BAP in vegetative growth and the beginning of reproductive growth stages. Two foliar applications of 25 mg/l BAP in vegetative growth and the beginning of reproductive growth stages had the highest number of seeds per plant. According to the results, one foliar application of BAP in vegetative growth stage is recommended to produce optimal seed yield in chickpea.

Keywords: Key word: Growth regulator, number of pods per plant, reproductive growth, cytokinin, foliar application.