Indian J. Plant Physiol., Vol.
XXX~
No.3, PI'. 305-307, 1?87
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
INFLUENCE OF CYCOCEL ON SEED YIELD AND OIL CONTENT IN SEED OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS, L.) S.B. PANDO ANDG.C. SRIVASTAVA
Division of Plant Physiology,
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-l 10 012
Experiments were conducted to find out theleifect of foliar application of
cycocel on seed yield and oil content in seed of lIuntlower in two different crop
seasons. Cycocel increased tbe seed weight, size of the seed and oil content in seed.
Significance of growth retardents, particularly of cycocel in growth and
grain yield of several crops has been reported during the last couple of years (Gill
et al. 1976; Radnex, ]976; Lovett and Orchard, 1977). In those plants where
excessive vegetative growth causes low grain yield due to poor carbon partitioning,
cycocel has been found useful in reducing the foliage and create a better and
conducive environment for seed formation and its growth (Pando and Srivastava~
1985). Besides its effect on grain yield, the quality aspects have also been
investigated in some crop plants. An increase in grain protein in barley (Cheema et
--41. 1975),and.taroh and protein in tuber crop (Fisher, 1974) has been reported. In
the present experiment an attempt has been made to investigate the oil content in
. seed along with seed weight in sunflower under the influence of cycocel foliar
application, under two crop seasons, summer (July sowing) and winter (Oct.
sowing).
Healthy and well filled see~s of sunflower (Var. EC 68415), surface sterilised
with Mercuric chloride (0.1 %) were grown in pots. Four seedlings of uniform size
were maintained in each pot till harvest. Plants were divided in two groups. One
group of plants were treated at pre flowering and the other at post flowering stage
with 3000 ppm cycocel (2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride), obtained
from Cynamide International, U.S.A.). Control plants were treated simultaneously
with distilled water. Normal cultural practices were followed as and when required.
Data at harvest were collected on seed wt. per plant and 100 seed weight
from four replicates and each replicate consj~ted of three plants. Oil content in
the seed was determined following cold percolation method (Kartha et al., i955)
and the mean values of three determinations are reported.
Results obtained on seed yield and oil content in both the seasons are
.reported in Table I. Application of cycocel either at pre or post flowering stage
enhanced the seed yield per plant under both the seasons. The 100 seed weight
. 4'"
306
S.B. PANDO AND G.C~ SRIVASTAVA
Table I: Effect of cycocel (3000 ppm.) treatment at pre and post flowering stage on
on seed weight and oil content in seed of sunflower
Cbaracter
Treatments
Pre·ftowering .
(33 d)
Summer
Post Dowering
(53 d)
Pre.fiowerlng
(33 d)
Winter
Post-fto wering
(51 d)
Cycocel
10.49
9.70
7.60
5.98
Control
8.69
8.69
5.66
5.66
C.D. at .05 P
Cycocel
Treatment
Time of appl.
4.05
0.502
0.410
3.39
3.08
2.99
Control
3.28
3.28
2.59
2.59
0.118
.. 0.141
33.6
0.211
0.102
32.9
30.0
1.810
1.491
30.0
2.410
2.012
Seed wt.
(g)
0.381
0.282
100 seed wt.
(g)
C.D. at 0.05 P Treatment
Time of appl.
35.3
Cycocel
35.60
Oil content
%
Control
35.1
C.D. at 0.5 P Treatment
Time of appl.
31.1
.a1so got increased however no significant increase could be observed in post
flowering treatment. Both, seed yield per plant and 100 seed weight were more in
sUQ1D1er season than in winter season. The oil content in the seed increased by
cycocel when applied either at pre or post flowering stage. No significant
difference, however was noticed between the two time of applications.
In earlier communication it has been reported that cycocel application
Teduced the plant size, enhanced the photosynthetic carbon fixation rate and
stimulated the flow of carbon towards the capitulum. The increase in seed size
and its weight as noted in the present experiment may be the result of more photo­
synthesis and better carbon partitioning.· Whether or not increase in oil content
is the result of more seed weight, remains unclear. As there is no information
available to suggest direct involvement of cycoCeI in oil biosynthesis, its possible
effect on enzymes· involved in oil synthesis may not be ignored, however this
aspect deserves further investigation.
REFERENCES
Cbeema,
s.s., Singh, R; Singh, J and Malhotra,
O.P. (1975). Effect of materiological conditions
. on the response of barley to cycocel under limited moisture condition. Indian J.
&0/2 (2) : 146.150.
CYCOCEL ON OIL CONTENT OF SUNFLOWER
307
Fisher, A.M; (1974). Effeet of chlorocholine chloride on yield and culinery qualities of potatoes.
Referativoyl Zhuroal (1975) 455-480.
GlII, A.S. Singh; M; Mannikar. N.D. and Adhichandani, C.T. (1976). Effeet of cycocel on growth
and seed yield of sorghum bieour. Indion I. Agron., 21 (4): 486-87.
•
c
Kartha, A.R.S.; Sethi, A.S. and Gutati, K..C. (1955). Rapid estimation of yield and iodine:
number of oil in small samples of oilseeds. Indwn I. Asri. Sci., 15 : 79-84.
Lovett, I.V. and Orchard, P.W. (1977). Influence ofCCC on sunflower growth, development and
yield condition. In proc. of the 6th International Sunflower Conference, Romania
(I.S.A. undated 153-159).
Pando, S.B. and Srivastava, G.C. (1985). Physiological studies on seed set in snnflower IlL
Significance of dwarfening the plant size Using growth regulator. Indi~ I. Plant
Physlol., l8 (No.1) 72-80.
Radoev. R. (1976). Investigation or dates for spraying cblorocboline chloride on barley.
Roltemn dni Nauki. 13 (I)) : 21-21.