Effect of Transpiration-reducing Chemicals on Growth, Flowering, and Stomatal Opening of Tomato Plants

Phenyl mercuric acetate, 8-hydroxyquinoline, N-dimethylamino succinamic acid, or 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride were sprayed on 37-day-old tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Sioux) plants seven times at weekly intervals. Plants of nearly normal appearance resulted with all treatments except 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. There was no change in leaf number, but 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride increased the number of flowers. 2-Chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and phenyl mercuric acetate caused earlier flowering. Yield was not affected significantly. Stomatal opening was reduced 80% immediately after spraying with phenyl mercuric acetate or 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, but 6 days after spraying, the reduction in stomatal opening was only 30 to 40%. Wilting was delayed 8 days by phenyl mercuric acetate and 4 days by 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and N-dimethyl amino succinamic acid treatments, when water was withheld 59 days after the final spray application.