Growth Parameters, photosynthetic pigments and mineral ions content of vicia faba plants treated with uniconazole

ABSTRACT

Growth parameters [viz. stem length, number of branches and leaves, fresh and dry weight of the shoot system as well as the water content of the shoot and its percentage], photosynthetic pigments [viz. chlorophyl a, chlorophyl b and carotenoids] and the mineral ions content [viz. K, Ca and Mg] of bean [Vicia faba cv. Giza 402] plants sprayed twice [after 4 and 6 weeks from sowing] with solutions of uniconazole [at the concentrations 0, 5, 10, 20 or 40 ppm] and collected after 5 and 7 weeks, were studied. The treatments decreased most of the studied growth parameters at the 2 investigated ages, the decrements were almost directly proportional with the concentration used of the growth regulator and it was sometimes significant at 1% or 5% levels of probability. Increases in photosynthetic pigments and mineral ions content occurred due to the treatments, the increments were in a linear relationship with the concentration used, these increments were often significant at 1% or 5% levels of probability and they were more pronounced at the 1st investigated age