Effect of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and gibberellic acid on survival of tall and dwarf peas grown in root rot soils

Abstract

Seeds of peas, Pisum sativum L. varieties Alaska and Early June, were soaked for 3 hours in 2.3 × 10−3 M 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA) or 3 × 10−5 M gibberellic acid (GA3), sown in steamed or root rot soils, and grown to flowering stage at controlled soil temperatures with 14 hours per day of 32 000 lumens per square meter. CEPA delayed emergence and decreased survival in var. Alaska, but increased survival in var. Early June between 14 C and 18 C. GA3 decreased survival in both varieties. Early emergence was followed by increased wilting. CEPA showed antigibberellin activity, in most instances counteracting the adverse effects of GA3.