2. The role of plant growth regulators in promotion of flowering

Research on flowering in forest trees has pursued two main objectives: 1) developing methods for stimulating flowering of selected genotypes to accelerate progeny testing, and 2) hastening the production of genetically-improved seeds in seed orchards. Cultural techniques have been used to some extent in the past for these purposes, but the use of plant-growth regulators (PGRs), particularly the gibberellins (GAs), has been increasingly successful. GAs have been shown to induce flowering in most conifers, but GA application on an operational basis has been worked out for only a few species. GAs have been applied effectively by topical treatment, by stem or branch injections, and by foliar sprays. The timing and concentration of applied chemicals are important and vary from species to species. Another PGR, naphthalene-acetic acid, is synergistic with GAs in some species. Adjunct cultural treatments are often used in combination with treatment with GAs. The success of treatment with GAs is determined to some extent upon the stage of development of the treated plants. The endogenous PGRs regulating flowering are not completely known but it appears that the GAs, the cytokinins, and bascisic acid may all be changed by treatments which induce flowering. Improved techniques becoming available for measuring PGRs are beginning to stimulate research on the endogenous PGRs. The PGRs will continue to play a major role in stimulating flowering in forest trees.     

9. Stress physiology of forest trees: The role of plant growth regulators

Abiotic and biotic stresses elicit changes in normal physiology of trees. Plant growth regulators (PGR) are involved in the stress response and appear to have two roles: 1) to minimize the impact of the stress on the tree and; 2) to trigger stress resistance mechanisms. In the latter case the PGR-induced changes appear to enhance resistance to subsequent stress. This cross-adaptation to stress is important in trees.The role of PGRs in the physiological response to the abiotic stresses of water deficit, water excess, temperature, nutrition and mechanical perturbation is discussed along with cross-adaptation in the interactions of these stresses. Disease response and defense, and plant-plant communications involve PGRs and are topics covered with respect to biotic stress. Stress leads to early senescence and abscission in trees. These processes are controlled by PGRs and are briefly discussed.     

Impacts of silvicultural thinning treatments on beetle trap captures and tree attacks during low bark beetle populations in ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona

Our research used a combination of passive traps, funnel traps with lures, baited trees, and surveys of long-term thinning plots to assess the impacts of different levels of stand basal area (BA) on bark beetle tree attack and on trap captures of Ips spp., Dendroctonus spp., and their predators. The study occurred at two sites in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., forests, from 2004 to 2007 during low bark beetle populations. Residual stand BA ranged from 9.0 to 37.0 m2/ha. More predators and bark beetles were collected in passive traps in stands of lower BA than in stands of higher BA; however, significance varied by species and site, and total number of beetles collected was low. Height of the clear panel passive traps affected trap catches for some species at some sites and years. When pheromone lures were used with funnel traps [Ips pini (Say) lure: lanierone, +03/-97 ipsdienol], we found no significant difference in trap catches among basal area treatments for bark beetles and their predators. Similarly, when trees were baited (Dendroctonus brevicomis LeConte lure: myrcene, exo-brevicomin and frontalin), we found no significant difference for days to first bark beetle attack. Surveys of long-term thinning treatments found evidence of bark beetle attacks only in unthinned plots (approximately 37 m2/ha basal area). We discuss our results in terms of management implications for bark beetle trapping and control.     

Effects of plant growth regulators on growth and morphogenesis in tissue culture of Chondracanthus chamissoi (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta)

Chondracanthus chamissoi (C. Agardh) Kützing (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) is an edible species and commercialised for carrageenan production in Chile. Investigations on growth and development are needed to improve its cultivation; therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on its growth and morphogenesis. PGRs tested were two auxins [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)] and one cytokinin (benzylaminopurine (BA)) in concentrations of 0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 μM. These PGRs were added to seawater enriched with half strength of von Stosch solution and were gelled with 0.6 % agar, and treatment control (without PGR addition) was conducted simultaneously. Apical and intercalary segments were used as initial explants. Each treatment was tested with six replicates of five axenic explants, and statistical analyses were performed. After culturing in a solid medium for 10 weeks to induce growth and callus formation, explants were cultured in liquid medium with the same experimental conditions for 10 weeks. Effects of auxins (IAA and 2,4-D) and the cytokinin BA on growth rates of apical segments of C. chamissoi were not significant, while low concentration of IAA stimulated the growth of intercalary segments. On the other hand, high concentrations of BA and IAA stimulated the callus formation in apical and intercalary segments, respectively. In liquid medium, PGR did not have a significant effect on growth rates of apical segments, while 2,4-D in concentrations from 0.5 to 50.0 μM stimulated growth of intercalary segments, and formation of lateral branches was stimulated by low 2,4-D in apical segments. These results suggest that PGRs have a regulatory role on callus formation and growth of specific explants of C. chamissoi. Furthermore, the formation of lateral branches stimulated by auxin could be used for seedling production under controlled conditions and could improve the micropropagation and cultivation of C. chamissoi in the Chilean coast.     

生长调节剂和渗透调节物质对水曲柳体胚发生的影响

以水曲柳成熟合子胚子叶为材料诱导体胚发生,通过改变诱导培养基中植物生长调节剂和渗透调节物质的种类及浓度,分析二者对水曲柳体胚发生的影响。研究结果表明：诱导培养基中的生长调节剂在水曲柳体胚发生过程中是必不可少的因素;高渗透压有利于体胚诱导：在添加生长调节剂的条件下,添加75 g·L^-1的蔗糖可提高体胚诱导率;通过在诱导培养基中添加100 g·L^-1蔗糖产生的体胚在含有BA的分化培养基上分化率更高。研究结果为提高水曲柳体胚诱导率、改善体胚发生状况和优化体胚发生体系奠定了基础。     

Promoting branching of a potential biofuel crop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L. by foliar application of plant growth regulators

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) has the potential to become a key biofuel crop. Manual pruning (MP) is one of the major management practices in commercial plantations of this crop, resulting in production of more branches and thus increased potential for more inflorescences leading to a higher seed yield. However, this method is time-consuming, labour-intensive and expensive. This study was conducted to determine the potential of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) to increase the number of lateral branches of J. curcas. A single foliar application of N ⁶-benzyladenine (BA) at 12 mM significantly increased branches in both the pot (4.0) and field (13.2) trials compared to MP (1.8 and 5.7, respectively) and control (no new branches) plants. In the field, a single foliar application of 1.0 mM 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) resulted in a significant increment in the number of branches (15.9) after 7 months. Of all the PGRs examined, 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-l-gluconic acid (dikegulac; DK) at 2.0 mM produced the maximum number of branches (18.0) in the field 7 months after application. Concentrations of 2.0 and 3.0 mM of 1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione (maleic hydrazide; MH) significantly increased the number of branches, 4 and 7 months after spraying in both the pot trial in the shade house and field, respectively. Under field conditions, J. curcas plants responded better to all the PGRs (DK < TIBA < BA < MH) when treated once, with insignificant variations in other growth parameters. This study indicates that a single foliar application of PGRs under field conditions can be an alternative method to MP for increasing the number of lateral branches of J. curcas.     

Progression of ash canopy thinning and dieback outward from the initial infestation of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in southeastern Michigan

Our objective was to characterize the rate at which ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees decline in areas adjacent to the leading edge of visible ash canopy thinning due to emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Trees in southeastern Michigan were surveyed from 2003 to 2006 for canopy thinning and dieback by comparing survey trees with a set of 11 standard photographs. Freeways stemming from Detroit in all directions were used as survey transects. Between 750 and 1,100 trees were surveyed each year. A rapid method of sampling populations of emerald ash borer was developed by counting emerald ash borer emergence holes with binoculars and then felling trees to validate binocular counts. Approximately 25% of the trees surveyed for canopy thinning in 2005 and 2006 also were sampled for emerald ash borer emergence holes using binoculars. Regression analysis indicates that 41-53% of the variation in ash canopy thinning can be explained by the number of emerald ash borer emergence holes per tree. Emerald ash borer emergence holes were found at every site where ash canopy thinning averaged > 40%. In 2003, ash canopy thinning averaged 40% at a distance of 19.3 km from the epicenter of the emerald ash borer infestation in Canton. By 2006, the point at which ash trees averaged 40% canopy thinning had increased to a distance of 51.2 km away from Canton. Therefore, the point at which ash trees averaged 40% canopy thinning, a state of decline clearly visible to the average person, moved outward at a rate of 10.6 km/yr during this period.     

Nuclear DNA content as an indicator of inflorescence colour stability of in vitro propagated solid and chimera mutants of chrysanthemum

In chrysanthemum, breeders seek for desirable characteristics of the inflorescence, which can first be established once the plant is mature. The present study aims to determine whether measurement of DNA content can be useful in the detection of somaclonal variants and/or separation of chimera components in chrysanthemum at the early in vitro multiplication stage. Eleven Chrysanthemum?×?morifolium (Ramat.) Hemsl. cultivars of the Lady group (a mother cultivar and ten of its radiomutants obtained by X-ray- or γ-irradiation; solid and periclinal chimeras) were propagated in vitro. Single-node explants were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, either without plant growth regulators (PGRs) or supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The nuclear DNA content was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) in the shoots produced in vitro. After acclimatization and growth of the plants in a glasshouse, inflorescence colour was recorded. The addition of PGRs to the medium almost doubled the mean number of shoots produced in vitro per explant, but caused a change in inflorescence colour of all (‘Lady Apricot’; periclinal chimera) or part of the plants (‘Lady Amber’; solid mutant and ‘Lady Salmon’; periclinal chimera). All radiomutants contained less DNA than the mother cultivar ‘Richmond’. There were significant differences in DNA content between plants of the same cultivar grown in media with or without PGRs for ‘Lady Apricot’ and ‘Lady Salmon’, but no phenotype alternation occurred in chrysanthemums produced in PGR-free medium compared to the original cultivars. Conversely, in medium with PGRs, chimeras produced flowers different from the original colour. In all except one cultivar (‘Lady Amber’; solid mutant) a lack of differences in genome size between plants grown in either medium coincided with a stable inflorescence colour. The occurrence of some plants of ‘Lady Amber’ with different inflorescence colour may be due to small DNA changes, undetectable by FCM. It can be concluded that FCM analysis of DNA content in young plantlets can be indicative of the stability of inflorescence colour in chrysanthemum, especially chimeric cultivars, and for mutant detection.

     

Effect of N6-benzyladenine and indole-3-butyric acid on photosynthetic apparatus of Orthosiphon stamineus plants grown in vitro

The leaf structure and chloroplast ultrastructure of kidney tea (Orthosiphon stamineus Benth.) was studied in in vitro culture on standard MS medium supplemented with or without plant growth regulators (PGRs). The cytokinin N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) negatively affected the structure of the palisade parenchyma and chloroplast ultrastructure and increased the stomatal frequency of the adaxial epidermis. The auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) did not modify the morphology of regenerated leaf tissues as well as the chloroplast ultrastructure. The effect of both PGRs applied in combination was manifested in well-differentiated mesophyll parenchyma, typical chloroplast ultrastructure and increased stomatal frequency on both leaf surfaces. This protocol can be suggested for further ex vitro propagation.     

长白落叶松（Larix olgensis）工业人工林的模拟间伐

应用马尔柯夫过程理论,在获得林分直径转移概率的基础上,采用间伐最小径阶林木,最大径阶林木,中间径阶林木三种间伐方式,在保留不同密度情况下对长白落叶松工业人工林进行模拟间伐,提出了适宜的保留密度和相应的抚育间伐对象。结果表明：马尔柯夫过程确能反映长白落叶松工业人工林的直径转移过程,利用马尔可夫过程理论对长白落叶松工业人工林进行模拟间伐实现了依据培育时间来确定间伐方法和措施,提高了长白落叶松工业人工林经营管理的精准性;长白落叶松工业人工林成林后的间伐无论从培育森林方面,还是从取得木材、加大林分收益方面考虑,都应该以间伐小径阶的林木为主,注重培育I、II级木,间伐III, IV级木;20～25 a长白落叶松工业人工林间伐后的保留经营密度以0.7为宜。     

Radial and stand‐level thinning treatments: 15‐year growth response of legacy ponderosa and Jeffrey pine trees

Restoration efforts to improve vigor of large, old trees and decrease risk to high‐intensity wildland fire and drought‐mediated insect mortality often include reductions in stand density. We examined 15‐year growth response of old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) trees in northeastern California, U.S.A. to two levels of thinning treatments compared to an untreated (control) area. Density reductions involved radial thinning (thinning 9.1 m around individual trees) and stand thinning. Annual tree growth in the stand thinning increased immediately following treatment and was sustained over the 15 years. In contrast, radial thinning did not increase growth, but slowed decline compared to control trees. Available soil moisture was higher in the stand thinning than the control for 5 years post‐treatment and likely extended seasonal tree growth. Our results show that large, old trees can respond to restoration thinning treatments, but that the level of thinning impacts this response. Stand thinning must be sufficiently intensive to improve old tree growth and health, in part due to increasing available soil moisture. Importantly, focusing stand density reductions around the immediate neighborhood of legacy trees was insufficient to elicit a growth response, calling into question treatments attempting to increase vigor of legacy trees while still maintaining closed canopies in dry, coniferous forest types. Although radial thinning did not affect tree growth rates, this treatment may still achieve other resource objectives not studied here, such as protecting wildlife habitat, reducing the risk of severe fire injury, and decreasing susceptibility to bark beetle attacks.     

Effects of foliar applied gibberellic acid and benzyladenine upon yield components in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Sunflower yield is determined by seed number/m^–2 and by achene weight. Frequently, a high percentage of empty achenes in the inner portion of the capitulum, probably due to a reduced vascularization of that section of the flower head, decreases final yield. The objective of the present research is to determine if foliarly applied gibberellic acid (GA) and benzyladenine (BA) can enhance the vascularization in the inner portion of the capitulum, improving photoassimilate translocation. Field experiments were conducted during 1989/90 with hybrid SPS 894 and during 1990/91 with hybrid ACA 882. GA (150 mg/l^–1), BA (150 and 250 mg/l^–1) and GA 150+BA 150 mg/l^–1 each were foliarly applied 20, 40, or 60 days after emergence. For both seasons and hybrids plant growth regulator (PGRs) applications significantly reduced the percentage of empty achenes, increased achene weight, achene weight (× 1000) and achene number in the inner portion of the capitulum and in the middle and outer portion during 1990/91. A 25% increase in seed yield was achieved due to PGR application and the capitulum partition index (achene weight/receptacle weight^–1, CPI) was significantly increased due to an improvement in photoassimilate distribution. A distribution model was derived showing that preferential allocation of photoassimilates in the outer portion of the capitulum can be modified by PGR application, demonstrating that photoassimilate distribution is under hormonal control.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET)     

The influence of plant growth regulators on explant performance, bud break, and shoot growth from large stem segments of Acer saccharinum L

Benzyladenine (BA) and/or gibberellic acid (GA₃) were applied in 20% white exterior latex paint separately at 0, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, or 30 mM; and at 1, 10, or 30 mM of each plant growth regulator (PGR) in a 3 × 3 factorial to 40 cm long stem segments of Acer saccharinum L. Softwood shoots were forced from these stem segments at various times of the year in a greenhouse and in a laboratory, these resulting shoots were surface disinfested and used as explants in vitro on Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut medium with 0 or 0.01 μM thidiazuron (TDZ). There was some response to the plant growth regulators applied in paint for shoot production from the stem segments and in vitro. Explants from softwood shoots forced from stems painted with 3 mM BA and cultured on medium with 0.01 μM TDZ produced more shoots than explants taken from softwood shoots forced with other BA concentrations or controls. Callus also grew significantly more on explants from stems treated with 3 mM BA cultured on 0.01 μM TDZ than explants harvested from stems painted with other concentrations of BA excluding 10 mM BA. When stem segments treated with BA plus GA₃ were compared as a group to controls, more and longer softwood shoots grew on the stems painted with PGRs when all four runs were pooled (Sept. 2005 through Feb. 2006). Application of PGRs in paint extends the season of production of softwood shoots that may be used as explant materials and their subsequent performance in vitro.     

极东锦鸡儿幼胚子叶的体细胞胚胎发生和植株再生

以极东锦鸡儿未成熟合子胚子叶为外植体进行其体细胞胚胎发生和植株再生研究。在添加不同BA与NAA或2,4-D,外加500mg·L~（-1）水解酪蛋白、30g·L~（-1）蔗糖和8g·L~（-1）琼脂的MS培养基上诱导产生了体细胞胚。在5mg·L~（-1）NAA＋5mg·L~（-1）BA和5mg·L~（-1）2,4-D＋1mg·L~（-1）BA处理中体胚诱导率分别为14%和10%;NAA处理每外植体上诱导出的体胚数量最多为4.3个,而2,4-D为10.5个。体细胞胚经成熟培养后,在添加0.01mg·L~（-1）NAA、20g·L~（-1）蔗糖和6g·L~（-1）琼脂的MS培养基上萌发率达到58.94%。萌发的体胚在MS培养基上长成正常小植株,再生率为87%。经炼苗后的体胚苗移植到草炭土：蛭石：珍珠岩=5：4：1（V/V/V）的栽培基质中,可以正常生长,移栽成活率为40%。     

Opposing effects of plant growth regulators via clonal integration on apical and basal performance in alligator weed

植物生长调节剂通过克隆整合对空心莲子草顶端和基部生长的不同作用 入侵植物不仅对全球生物多样性造成了巨大的威胁,同时也严重影响了农业生产与粮食安全。克隆整合使得相连植株进行资源共享,能促进入侵植物的生长从而获得优势。然而,入侵杂草 在植物调节剂(plant growth regulators, PGRs)影响下的克隆整合作用则很少有报道。PGRs被广泛应用于 农作物生产上,并能通过土壤淋溶、侵蚀和径流作用,影响分布在作物附近的农田杂草的生长。本 研究采用两种PGRs赤霉素(gibberellins, GA)和多效唑(paclobutrazol,PAC)处理恶性入侵杂草空心莲子草 (Alternanthera philoxeroides)基端,并保持或者通过剪切达到控制基端与顶端的连通,从而探究克隆整合作用在空心莲子草响应两种农业常用PGRs中的作用。研究结果表明,GA和PAC对空心莲子草生长的作用相反。GA通过克隆整合作用显著促进顶端植株的地上生长。相反地,PAC显著抑制基端和顶端的地 上生长,但是能够通过克隆整合作用显著促进基端和顶端的地下生长。这些研究结果解释了克隆整合作用能促进PGRs对空心莲子草生长的促进作用,这很可能是外来杂草能够成功入侵人为干扰较多的农业生态系统的重要原因之一。     

Restoration of Old Forest Features in Coast Redwood Forests Using Early‐stage Variable‐density Thinning

To accelerate development of old forest features in coast redwood, two thinning treatments and an unthinned control were compared in three treatment areas in north coastal California. One thinning treatment was designed to restore old forest densities of 125 trees/ha and the other 250 trees/ha representing a one‐step and partial treatments to the desired stand density. Four years after treatment, numbers of trees had increased in the thinning treatments due to recruitment of new trees, but had decreased in the control due to self‐thinning. Residual trees increased in stem volume following thinning by 128% in low‐density thinning compared to 70% in the controls indicating thinning accelerated stand development. The thinning treatments also moved the species composition of these stands to a greater proportion of redwood. Considerable slash was produced by the thinning treatments but was decomposing rapidly. Black bears damaged approximately 15% of all trees and more than 38% of residual trees in the thinned treatments compared to less than 2% of all trees in the control. This damage included killing some trees and damaging other trees that survived. Decisions over restoration densities in these stands are complicated by prolonged stand development, and balancing risks and costs. In this case, the bears represent a stochastic factor that dramatically increases risk. Thinning appears to be an effective means of enhancing old forest development by accelerating tree growth, modifying species composition, and increasing stand‐level variability. Continued monitoring will be necessary to evaluate long‐term trends in density relative to effects of bear damage.     

√2 Rule for Controlling the Tree Pattern in Forest Cut

A forest's productivity can be optimized by the application of rules derived from monopolized circles.A monopolized circle is defined as a circle whose center is a tree and whose radius is half of the distance between the tree itself and its nearest neighbor.Three characteristics of monopolized circle are proved.(1) Monopolized circles do not overlay each other,the nearest relationship being tangent.(2)"Full uniform pattern"means that the grid of trees (a×=N) covers the whole plot,so that the distance between each tree in a row is the same as the row spacing.The total monopolized circle area with a full uniform pattern is independent on the number of trees and π/4 times the plot area.(3) If a tree is removed,the area of some trees'monopolized circle will increase without decreasing the monopolized circles of the other trees.According to the above three characteristics,"uniform index"is defined as the total area of monopolized circles in a plot divided by the total area of the monopolized circles,arranged in a uniform pattern in the same shaped plot.According to the definition of monopolized circle,the distribution of uniform index (L) = x2(2n)/2πn for a random pattern and E(L)=1/π;the variance of L is D(L)=1/nπ2.It is evident that E(L) is independent on N and the plot area;hence,L is a relative index.L can be used to compare the uniformity among plots with different areas and the numbers of trees.In a random pattern,where L is equivalent to the tree density of the plot in which the number of trees is 1 and the area is π,the influence of tree number and plot area to L is eliminated.When n→∞,D(L)→0 and L→1/π= 0.318;it indicates that the greater the number of tree is in the plots,the smaller the difference between the uniform indices will be.There are three types of patterns for describing tree distribution (aggregated,random,and uniform patterns).Since the distribution of L in the random pattern is accurately derived,L can be used to test the pattern types.The research on Moarshan showed that the whole plot has an aggregated pattern;the first,third,and sixth parts have an aggregated pattern;and the second,fourth,and fifth parts have a random pattern.None of the uniform indices is more than 0.318 (1/Ⅱ),which indicates that uniform patterns are rare in natural forests.The rules of uniform index can be applied to forest thinning.If you want to increase the value of uniform index,you must increase the total area of monopolized circles,which can be done by removing select trees."Increasing area trees"are the removed trees and can increase the value of the uniform index.A tree is an increasing area tree if the distance between the tree and its second nearest neighbor is √2 times longer than that between the tree itself and its first nearest neighbor,which is called the √2 rule.It was very interesting to find that when six plots were randomly separated from the original plot,the proportion of increasing area trees in each plot was always about 0.5 without exception.In random pattern,the expected proportion of increasing area trees is about 0.35-0.44,which is different from the sampling value of 0.5.The reason is very difficult to explain,and further study is needed.Two criteria can be used to identify which trees should be removed to increase the uniform index during forest thinning.Those trees should be (1) trees whose monopolized circle areas are on the small side and (2) increasing area trees,which are found via the √2 rule.     

4. The role of plant growth regulators in the germination of forest tree seeds

To establish a role for PGRs in the germination of forest tree seeds, it must be demonstrated that PGRs are involved in the mechanisms that control the induction of and release from dormancy, and also that these mechanisms are operative in the seeds of woody plants. Four currently known concepts of seed dormancy are reviewed, citing the published evidence relating PGRs to tree seed germination. The germination of tree seeds appears to be controlled by a variety of external and internal factors. PGRs figure prominently among these factors, but the range of mechanisms by which such control is mediated may vary considerably—from physical to metabolic. Although significant support can be found for PGR involvement in the regulation of angiosperm seed dormancy, the evidence for gymnosperms is still inconclusive. This is primarily because our understanding of the control of germination—by PGRs or other means—is generally unsatisfactory. However, recent advancements in PGR technology, together with a more holistic concept of PGR action in biological systems, signal a more favourable climate and a revitalized approach to the investigation of the role of PGRs in plant growth and development.     

Conservation of microRNA-mediated regulatory networks in response to copper stress in grapevine

Jatropha curcas L. as a bio energy plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family is gaining progressive importance over the last years. In 2012 and 2014 field experiments were carried out to assess the effects of cytokinins 6-Benzyladenine (BA) and Forchlorfenuron (CPPU) acting as plant growth regulators (PGRs). Number of flowers per inflorescence, female-to-male ratio of flowers, fruits per infructescence, fruiting rate, number of seeds per fruit, seed size and weight as well as seed oil content were determined. It was suggested that concerning effectiveness of exogenous application of PGRs the developmental stage of flower is very important. Due to that, special interest was laid on the age of inflorescences at the time of application. Our experiments revealed a strong dependence of cytokinin effectiveness on the developmental stage of flowering. So treatment of plants with 6-Benzyladenine at the beginning of flower formation (stage 1) significantly increased the number of male and female flowers per inflorescence, whereas treatment at an advanced flowering stage (stage 2) or at the stage of fully developed flowers (stage 3) had only slight or no effects. In contrast, fruit retention was progressively increased by treatment in stage 2 and 3. Application of Forchlorfenuron significantly increased female-to-male ratio in stage 1 flowers but showed no effects on stage 2 and 3. 6-Benzyladenine as well as Forchlorfenuron showed equal effects on number of fruit inflorescences treated in stage 1. Our results show a significant decrease in seed weight due to BA- and CPPU-application while kernel weight remained stable. Concerning fruits, clusters and oil yield per tree, BA-application showed significant increasing effects. This study indicates that 6-Benzyladenine and Forchlorfenuron can improve yield affecting parameters in J. curcas when the phenological stage of flowering at time of application is precisely considered.