The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of doses and times of application of three growth regulators on wheat stem elongation. The experiments were conducted in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, from May to September 2005, in a factorial and hierarchical randomized block design with four repetitions and a control treatment. Treatments consisted of 500, 1000 and 1500 g ha-1 of chlormequat; 62.5, 125.0 and 187.5 g ha-1 of trinexapac-ethyl and 40, 80 and 120 g ha-1 of paclobutrazol, applied either at the 6 or 8 stage of the Feeks and Large scale, with a control. Stem length with trinexapac-ethyl was smaller than with chlormequat, which was in its turn smaller than with paclobutrazol. Application of growth regulators at stage 1 produced shorter basal internodes, whereas the stage 2 application caused greater reduction in the peduncle. The increase in chlormequat and trinexapac-ethyl doses reduced length of stem and its parts. The increase in paclobutrazol doses had very small effects on wheat growth and its parts.
Triticum aestivum L; chlormequat; trinexapac-ethyl; paclobutrazol
