Explore the science behind wheat growth regulators and how they influence crop development and yield in agricultural settings. Test your understanding of the uses, effects, and considerations related to these agricultural inputs.
Which is a primary goal of applying growth retardants to wheat fields during the stem elongation phase?
Explanation: Growth retardants are often used to reduce the risk of lodging by shortening and strengthening wheat stems. Promoting seed dormancy is not the main goal during active growth; although leaf greenness can be an indicator of plant health, it is not a direct effect of growth retardants. Accelerating grain maturity is not typically the reason for using these chemicals.
Which class of chemical is frequently used as a wheat growth retardant in agriculture?
Explanation: Triazoles are commonly used as growth retardants for wheat as they inhibit gibberellin biosynthesis, reducing stem elongation. Auxins are plant hormones involved in cell elongation, not retardation. Nitrogenous fertilizers and potassium phosphates are used primarily for nutrition, not for growth regulation.
At which stage is it most effective to apply wheat growth retardants for optimal stem strengthening?
Explanation: Applying growth retardants during stem elongation is effective because this is when stems are rapidly growing and most susceptible to lodging. Application during mid grain filling or after harvest is too late; at seed germination, plants have not begun stem growth.
What is a potential negative effect of excessive use of wheat growth retardants?
Explanation: Overapplication of growth retardants can limit vegetative growth excessively, sometimes leading to smaller grain size. Increased weed pressure is not a typical direct result, while the other options—improved disease resistance and higher grain moisture—are unrelated or not common negative consequences.
Why is careful dosing important when using synthetic growth regulators on wheat crops?
Explanation: Proper dosing minimizes the risk of runoff or accumulation in the environment, reducing potential negative ecological effects. Speeding up sowing is unrelated to regulator use, increased root disease is not a typical desired outcome, and growth regulators do not directly adjust soil pH.