Effect of Nitrogen, Gibberellic Acid, Triadimefon, and Kinetin on the Seedling Growth of Sapodilla (Achras sapota) and Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
Container experiments were conducted in the Dominican Republic to determine the effects of nitrogen, gibberellic acid, triadimefon, and kinetin on the seedling growth of sapodilla (Achras sapota) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica). Plants were started from seeds on cylindrical plastic containers (20 × 20 cm) filled with an artificial a 1:1 mixture of sand and loamy soil, allowing the growth of only one plant per container. Nitrogen rates (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g N per plant, applied as ammonium sulfate) were factorially combined with the rates (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm each) of the regulators. When the plants had three true leaves, nitrogen was applied to the growing mixture, whereas the growth regulators were applied foliarly. Plants were allowed to grow during 60 days after treatment. There were no nitrogen and regulator interactions. Kinetin treatments did not significantly influence shoot dry weight and height in either species. Both species responded with linearly increased height, internode length, and dry weight to increasing GA3 concentrations. Increasing rates of the growth retardant triadimefon significantly reduced the internode length and total height of sapodilla and tamarind seedlings. These results suggest that gibberellin and triadimefon could be effectively used as a means to stimulate or retard, respectively, the growth of sapodilla and tamarind.