Effects of Triacontanol on Seed Germination and Early Growth

Abstract

Seeds of 15 weed, crop, and horticultural species were treated with 10-5 M n-triacontanol (in 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide) to determine its effects on germination, morphology, and early growth. Germination was not significantly affected in any of the 15 species tested. Axis length was inhibited in three species: lettuce (Lactuca saliva L.), sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L.), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). There was no stimulation or inhibition of growth in corn (Zea mays L.), sesbania (Sesbania exaliata [Raf.] Cory), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench), spurred anoda (Anoda cristata [L.] Schlecht), purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli [L.] Beauv.), soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), sida (Sida spinosa L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.), pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), or muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Triacontanol, which has previously been shown to stimulate growth at ∼10-8 M, can also inhibit growth selectively at higher c...