Non-oilseed sunflower plants can be exposed to lodging in some production regions due to higher plant height and larger heads, which is further exacerbated by heavily rainfall and strong winds. In this context, plant growth regulators such as mepiquat chloride (MC) can be considered as an alternative approach in reducing plant height and lodging. | Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Research Article Turk J Agric For (2017) 41: 472-479 © TÜBİTAK doi: Effects of mepiquat chloride applications on non-oilseed sunflower 1, 1 1 2 Taşkın POLAT *, Hakan ÖZER , Erdoğan ÖZTÜRK , Fırat SEFAOĞLU Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey 2 Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute, Erzurum, Turkey 1 Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: Non-oilseed sunflower plants can be exposed to lodging in some production regions due to higher plant height and larger heads, which is further exacerbated by heavily rainfall and strong winds. In this context, plant growth regulators such as mepiquat chloride (MC) can be considered as an alternative approach in reducing plant height and lodging. This study was conducted to determine the effect of MC application on the growth, yield, and yield components of non-oilseed sunflowers at different growth stages (V4, R1, R2, and R3) and rates (0, 30, 60, and 90 g . ha–1) in Erzurum Province, eastern Anatolia, Turkey, in the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. In general, the MC applications had significant effects on the plant parameters investigated. In comparison with the control treatment, the MC application of 60 g . ha–1 decreased plant height by and increased stem diameter, head diameter, seed filling percentage, ratio of dehulled/hulled seed weight, 1000-achene weight, and seed yield by , , , , , and , respectively. Similarly, the applications of MC at different growth stages also significantly affected seed yield and other characteristics such as plant height, stem diameter, and head diameter. The application of MC at the early growth stage (V4) was more effective compared to the later growth stages (R1, R2, and R3). The results of this study suggest that the .
