Abstract
The effect of Chlormequat on wheat (ev. LUMS) under different moisture laves was .studied at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Pakistan. The seeds of wheat cv. LU2(IS were soaked in 0. mil, 1000, and 1400 ppm Chlormequat and sowed in the experimental field created three moisture levels. The plant treated with Chlormequat decreased plant height at all moisture levels while the number.of tillers per plant, number of fertile tillers pier plant, ear length, number of grains per ear, 1000 grain weight, yield per plot, sterile spikelets per ear and fertility ratio increased significantly in Chlormequat treated plant at all Weds of moisurc. On the other hand the above characters Increased significantly midi the increase in moisture levels. The best dose of Chlormequat 'Arai 1000 ppm and the beat moisture level was third moisture level.
iNTRODUCTEON
There are large number of chemicals which can restrict plant height without hampering gross yield. Chlormequat (2-00oroethyl) trimethyl ammoni. nm chloride also known as CCC is such a chemical which is said to induce dwarfness in cereals like wheat (Braun and Wild, 1985, Nagy and Tabe„ 1982) and thus ;preventing lodging produced increase in 'yield • (Khan and Wasti, 1980, Gonzalez, 1983, Heyland and Thum, 1983) Chlortnequat induces ieromophic characters in plants, making the plant tissues compact with greater development or mechanical tissue and increases leaf area (Haig, 1970. Kazira and Mohlin, 1980 and Adler, 19116). It reduces transpiration., (Girl. and Singh, 11984) and brings about increase in osmotic pressure of cell sap (M. ee al., 1982). Due to the development of the xeromorphie characters plants require less amount of Water .(De ni„ 1982, Oki and Singh. 19M) Chlormequat enlarges root system of plants and alloy.'" more tillers to survive when the soil is dry (El-Darnaty et tit, 1965), ft enables plants to withstand the drought conditions (13aig 074
