Effect of plant growth regulators on paddy rice

The effect of 4 plant growth regulators (FOR), BAS 111, DCiB, EL 500, Terpal C, on growth and yield of paddy rice was studied in field experiments in Southern China. PGR-application was practiced by seed soaking, root dipping at transplanting and leaf spraying at elongation stage respectively, using a 2, 5 × 10^?5 M concentration of the particular PGR. There was only a minor stem reducing effect of the PGRs at the early stage of tillering, most pronounced after seed soaking. But at harvest time all trials reached the same plant height. In spite of this, seed soaking with EL 500, BAS 111 and Terpal C increased grain yield between 10 and 13 % in the first crop. The results are discussed in connection with a direct PGR-effect on the generative phase of rice.