Studies on the role of abeisie acid as antiranspirant on growth, chemical analysis and yield components of cowpea plants in presence of soil conditioners

Cowpea plants were grown in newly reclaimed soil mixed with three different types of soil conditioners, the plants were sprayed twice after 30 and 37 days from sowing, with different concentrations of Abscisic acid [ABA]. As a result of the foliar ABA application on plants grown in the absence of the soil conditioners, there were a slight increase in respect to the plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, the fresh and dry weight of the whole plants and the seed yield/ Feddan. These increments followed the gradual increase of ABA concentration. The ABA treatments induced a potent effect in reducing the stomatal number and width on both leaves surfaces, chlorophyll, carotenoids and sugar contents while there was an increase in the nitrogenous constituents in the leaves. The effect of the soil conditioners [only] showed a significant increase in respect to all mentioned parameters when compared with ABA treatments and the untreated plants. The interaction treatments [ABA and the soil conditioners] increased significantly all the mentioned parameters and also reduced the stomatal number and width compared with the respective control of the soil conditioners and the untreated plants but not in respect of ABA treatments

Response of vicia faba [Brood bean] Plant to preplanting soil incorporation with different rates of topogard and enide herbicides

The effect of two common herbicides viz topogard SOWP a triazine and enide SOWP [amide family] on growth of the various parts of broad bean [Vicia faba] seedlings was investigated. Pre-emergence application of both herbicides resulted in stunted growth of shoot and root and decrease of the seedling dry matter, particularly with "enide". Necrosis and chlorosis appeared on the leaves of enide-treated seedlings only. Nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity [NRase] were markedly suppressed, specially in enide-treated seedlings. This suppression may be related to a disturbance of the NO3 transport system as well as to the inhibitory effect of the herbicide on enzyme synthesis. Treatment with these herbicides decreased the total carbohydrate and nitrogen contents of seedlings, presumably due to an inhibitory effect on photosynthesis and protein biosynthesis in Vicia faba seedlings