Rain-free requirement and physiological properties of cotton plant growth regulators

Greenhouse studies were conducted to (1) evaluate the rain-free requirement for mepiquat chloride and mepiquat chloride plus cyclanilide with and without surfactant and to (2) evaluate absorption and translocation of cyclanilide, a component of a new cotton plant growth regulator. No significant differences in the number of nodes, leaf area, and plant organ fresh and dry weight were observed with any PGR treatment and rainfall simulation combination. Both plant growth regulators responded similarly to rainfall interval. As rain-free period increased, cotton height was reduced. Based on these data, a rain-free period of 8 h is needed to maximize efficacy, regardless of the use of surfactant. Absorption of cyclanilide ranged from 11 to 15% at 3 and 48 h after treatment, respectively. Averaged over harvest intervals, 18% of the applied cyclanilide remained in the treated leaf while 1.7 and 6.5% of the applied cyclanilide was found in the above and below treated leaf tissue, respectively.