Water stress effects on betelvine (Piper betle L.) and its alleviation by n-triacontanol

n-Triacontanol, a saturated fatty alcohol known to be a bioregulator of gro wth, remarkably augments the yield component as well as essential oil conte nt and its constituents of Piper betle leaves. Some varieties are more rece ptive to such effects. It is also capable of alleviating water stress damag e and under medium stress, increasing effects are synergestic. The study op ens up new vistas of economic cultivation of Piper betle, the leaves of whi ch is long recognized to be used in traditional medicines, practised in Ind ia.