EFFECT OF BENSULFURON-METHYL ON COTTON (GOSSYPIUM-HIRSUTUM L) GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Field experiments were conducted in Alabama from 1992 through 1994 to evaluate the potential of the methyl ester of bensulfuron applied at s ublethal rates as a plant growth regulator for reducing plant height a nd bell rot in cotton, Bensulfuron at 0.017 and 0.034 g ai/ha or mepiq uat chloride at 10 g ai/ha was applied POST alone at the pinhead squar e or early-bloom stage of cotton growth or sequentially at 0.017 follo wed by (fb) 0.017 g/ha, 0.034 fb 0.034 g/ha of bensulfuron and 5 fb 5, 10 fb 10, 10 fb 20, or 20 fb 20 g/ha of mepiquat chloride. Mepiquat c hloride had no effect on yield in 1992 and 1994 but decreased yield wh en applied sequentially in 1993, Bensulfuron was generally detrimental to first position fruit retention, and it delayed maturity. Treatment s that reduced plant height did not reduce bell rot, Bensulfuron treat ments that reduced plant height also reduced yield; therefore, the pot ential for its use as a growth regulator in cotton appears limited.