Water status maintenance induced by Trinexapac-Ethyl in soybean plants

Abstract

Improving abiotic stress tolerance in plants by crop management is one of biggest goals of actual research, thus, plant growth regulators have a great potential in the physiological manure of crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of Trinexapac-Ethyl on soybean plants affected by drought stress during the reproductive stage. Four Trinexapac-Ethyl doses were evaluated (0, 50, 100, and 200 g ha^-1 a.i.) and the induction or not of drought stress. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks in factorial design (4x2) with four replications. Relative water content was measured during drought stress and rehydration period. Protoplasmic tolerance and biometric parameters were determined after recovery period. Yield and yield components were determined at the end of crop cycle. Low intensity drought stress was verified at this work, which affected the plant growth but did not affect soybean yield. Trinexapac-Ethyl application resulted in maintenance of leaves relative water content, mainly at 200 g ha^-1 dose, without affect biometric parameters and grain yield. This behavior is a great indicative of increase in soybean drought tolerance.