title: Foliar application of Zn at flowering stage improves plant's performance, yield and yield attributes of black gram.
abstract: Black gram plants subjected to varying levels of Zn supply (0.01 to 10 microM Zn) showed optimum growth and dry matter yield in plants receiving 1 microM Zn. The dry matter yield of plants decreased in plants receiving 0.01 and 0.1 microM Zn (deficient) and excess levels of Zn (2 and 10 microM Zn). The plants grown with Zn deficient supply showed delayed flowering, premature bud abscission, reduced size of anthers, pollen producing capacity, pollen viability and stigma receptivity resulting in poor pod formation and seed yield. Providing Zn as a foliar spray at pre-flowering stage minimized the severity of Zn deficiency on reproductive structure development and enhanced the seed nutritional status by enhancing seed Zn density, seed carbohydrate (sugar and starch content) and storage proteins (albumins, globulins, glutenins, and prolamines).
authors.affiliation: Plant Nutrition and Stress Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India. nalini_pandey@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Bhavana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Girish Chandra
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D035264:Flowers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011058:Pollen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc