Improvements in the Fruit Set and Harvest Index of Eggplant by 2- (3, 4-Dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine Hydrochloride [DCPTA]

Abstract

Applicaiton of the tertiary amine bioregulator, 2- (3, 4-dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine hydrochloride (DCPTA), as a soak-treatment to ungerminated seeds of eggplant (Solanum melongena L. cv. Senryo-Nigo) reduced the days to harvest, increased the fruit set, and concentrated the harvestable yield of plants that were grown in pot culture. Of plants harvested 107 days after seed planting, the total fruits per plant, harvestable yield, and harvest index (dry weight basis) of 3 and 30 μM DCPTA-treated plants were increased significantly (p <0.05) when compared with the control values. The improved yield characteristics of DCPTA-treated plants were not dependent on DCPTA-mediated improvements in vegetative plant growth.