ASHOKA RANI, YMENAKA, P2017-02-142017-02-142014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810000795D5086A field experiment was carried out at the college farm, Agricultural College, Bapatla in clay loam soil during Rabi 2013-14 to study the Physiological effects of Boron and plant growth regulators on pod setting and seed yield of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum L.).The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments viz., 250 ppm Ethrel at 25 DAS (T1),10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS (T2), 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T3), 250 ppm Ethrel at 25 DAS + 10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS (T4 ),10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS + 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T5), 250 ppm Ethrel at 25 DAS + 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T6 ), 250 ppm Ethrel at 25 DAS + 10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS + 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T7 ) and Control (T8) in three replications. Among all the treatments, 10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS + 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T5) was found superior to control resulting in an increase of 19.8 per cent in plant height. The highest number of branches per plant was obtained with 10 ppm Kinetin spray at 35 DAS (T2), which was found 67.3 per cent higher than control. The number of flowers per plant was found high with Ethrel, Kinetin and Ethrel + Kinetin sprays, which resulted in an increase of 16.3, 12.0 and 11.9 per cent respectively compared to control. Flower drop and flower abortion were recorded low in plants treated with 250 ppm Ethrel. The plants sprayed with 10 ppm Kinetin at 35 DAS (T2) increased the accumulation of dry matter in root, stem and leaves by 64.7, 54.4 and 58.9 per cent respectively compared to control whereas the spray of 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T3) accumulated 40.0 per cent higher amount of pod dry matter, and 62.4 per cent higher total biomass than control. The highest value of CGR (14.0 g m-2 d-1) was noticed during 60 DAS - maturity with foliar spray of 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS (T3). Maximum RGR was observed during 30-45 DAS with foliar application of 10 ppm Kinetin by 22.8 per cent compared to control. At 45 DAS Ethrel, Kinetin and Ethrel + Kinetin sprays maintained high RWC in leaves. The treatments T1, T2 and T4 resulted in 16.5, 13.1 and 12.2 per cent increase in RWC compared to control. At 60 DAS, the spray of Boron alone and in combination of Ethrel and Ethrel + Kinetin maintained 26.0 to 28.9 per cent higher RWC in leaves than control. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids and total chlorophyll were found higher than control due to spray of Kinetin alone followed by Ethrel + Kinetin and Ethrel spray alone. Nitrate reductase activity was influenced mainly by Kinetin spray. Increase in Fe, Zn and starch content in seed was observed with spray of 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS. The Protein content in seeds was observed 17 per cent higher than control by Ethrel + Kinetin + Boron spray. The spray of Boron resulted in an increase of 24.7 and 12.6 per cent in number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight respectively over control. Spray of 250 ppm Ethrel at 25DAS + 0.25% Boron at 45 DAS resulted in an increase of 26.5 per cent in pod yield ha-1 and 25.6 per cent in seed yield ha-1 compared to control.en-USsowing, intercropping, wheats, tillage equipment, seed drilling, crops, mustard, fertilizers, land resources, chickpeasThesis