Performance of the steroid al phytohormone cidef-4 on Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) cv. Tanzania seed yield and quality

The objective of the present study was assessing the effects of Steroidal Phytohormone cidef-4 on Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) cv. Tanzania seed yield and quality. This experiment was carried out during 2001 in Tepujilco, State of Mexico. Six treatments were evaluated: T1) Control; T2) 4 mg L(-1) active ingredient (a.i.) applied at beginning of anthesis; T3) 4 mg L(-1) a.i. applied before heading and at beginning of anthesis; T4) 8 mg L(-1) a.i. applied at beginning of anthesis; T5=8 mg L(-1) a.i. applied before heading and at beginning of anthesis; T6=12 mg L(-1) a.i. applied only at beginning of anthesis. Treatments were distributed according to a completely randomized block design with three replicates. Total seed yield (TSY), pure seed yield (PSY), panicles per square meter, panicle length, seeds produced and harvested per panicle, 1000-seed weight, and seed germination percentage were evaluated. TSY and PSY showed differences between treatments (P < 0.05), the greater yields were registered for T6. Panicle number, seeds produced and harvested per panicle and 1000-seed weight, showed differences (P < 0.05) among treatments, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6, all of them showing greater values (P < 0.05) than control. Seed germination percentage did not show differences (P > 0.05) among treatments. It can be concluded that steroidal phytohormone cidef-4 increased seed yield irrespective of concentration levels and plant stage at application. Seed quality was not affected by any treatment.