Influence of morphactin on pearl millet plants under water stress

The effects of foliar application of morphactin (0, 10, 50 and 100 ppm) onPennisetum typhoides (cv. HB3) have been studied under different soil moisture conditions (0.3, 3 and 9 x 10Pa tension). Morphactin application reduced the plant height, increased the tillering and leaf number of the main shoot and adversely affected the growth characters associated with the grain production. The overall performance of plants was not improved by morphactin treatment under low moisture regime and it did not impart any efficiency of water use for grain production. Findings on the phosphorus and potassium levels of the shoot tissue suggested a possibility of its interference in the nutrient uptake process.