Effect of Seed Soaking with Uniconazole on Growth and Development of Foxtail Millet Plant

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence and regulation effect of seed soaking with different uniconazole concentrations(15,30,60,and 120 mg L-1) on the growth of roots and relation between roots and shoots in foxtail millet cultivar Jingu 21 cultured in pot and soil column on the experimental farm of Shanxi Agricultural University.The main results were as follows:(1) Uniconazole treatment inhibited the growth of shoots and promoted the growth of roots simultaneously.The number,activity,dry weight and total length of roots increased obviously,so did the stem thickness and tillers,but the plant height decreased.(2) Uniconazole treatment decreased the leaf area at seedling stage,but promoted its leaf growth at booting stage.(3) Uniconazole treatment adjusted the senescent process of plant through prolonging the declining phase of root activity,improving the activities of SOD and POD,and reducing malondialdehyde(MDA) accumulation in root and flag leaf after anthesis to some extent.Through treating seed in 30 mg L-1 uniconazole,the activities roots in lower layer increased 34.95%,43.64%,and 44.74% respectively at 10,20,and 30 days after anthesis compared with control.(4) Uniconazole treatment increased the ears per pot,1000-grain weight,and the yield obviously.In a conclusion,the seed soaking in uniconazole solution of 15-120 mg L-1 concentrations could increase the foxtail millet yield obviously,and the treatment of 30 mg L-1 uniconazole had the best effect under the condition of this study.