With the objective of evaluating the effect of different doses of mepiquat chloride (0, 50, 75, 100 and 125 g/ha), and thidiazuron (0, 45, 60 and 75 g/ha) on the physiological characteristics of cotton seed, an experiment was carried out at UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design and the treatments were arranged in a 5x4 factorial replicated four times. The results showed that in increasing mepiquat chloride doses resulted in higher 100 seed weight and faster emergence indices. As for seedling dry matter, mepiquat chloride and thidiazuron showed antagonic effects. The germination percentage and the hypocotil length were not affected significantly by either chemical, alone or in combination.
Gossypium hirsutum; growth regulator; defoliant; germination; vigour
