Response of American sycamore seedlings to maleic hydrazide and sodium chloride

Abstract

AbstractAmerican sycamore (Platanus occidentals L.) seedlings grown in a hydroponics system were treated with a growth regulator, maleic hydrazide (MH) or sodium chloride, or a combination of the two. Application of maleic hydrazide or sodium chloride retarded plant growth, but combined application did not show significant interaction effects. Treatment with both sodium chloride and MH reduced the dry weight of plant tissue to a greater extent than sodium chloride application alone. Elemental analyses of various plant parts revealed that MH was generally without effect on the level of either sodium or chloride ions. In old stem tissue, however, treatment with MH had no effect in the absence of sodium chloride but was associated with lower chloride content in its presence.