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    Paclobutrazol treatment as a potential strategy for higher seed and oil yield in field-grown camelina sativa L. Crantz

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Camelina (Camelina sativa </it>L. Crantz) is a non-food oilseed crop which holds promise as an alternative biofuel energy resource. Its ability to grow in a variety of climatic and soil conditions and minimal requirements of agronomical inputs than other oilseed crops makes it economically viable for advanced biofuel production. We designed a study to investigate the effect of paclobutrazol [2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol] (PBZ), a popular plant growth regulator, on the seed and oil yield of <it>Camelina sativa </it>(cv. Celine).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A field-based micro-trial setup was established in a randomized block design and the study was performed twice within a span of five months (October 2010 to February 2011) and five different PBZ treatments (Control: T<sub>0</sub>; 25 mg l<sup>-1</sup>: T<sub>1</sub>; 50 mg l<sup>-1</sup>: T<sub>2</sub>; 75 mg l<sup>-1</sup>: T<sub>3</sub>; 100 mg l<sup>-1</sup>: T<sub>4</sub>; 125 mg l<sup>-1</sup>: T<sub>5</sub>) were applied (soil application) at the time of initiation of flowering. PBZ at 100 mg l<sup>-1 </sup>concentration (T<sub>4</sub>) resulted in highest seed and oil yield by 80% and 15%, respectively. The seed yield increment was mainly due to enhanced number of siliques per plant when compared to control. The PBZ - treated plants displayed better photosynthetic leaf gas exchange characteristics, higher chlorophyll contents and possessed dark green leaves which were photosynthetically active for a longer period and facilitated higher photoassimilation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report for the first time that application of optimized PBZ dose can be a potential strategy to achieve higher seed and oil yield from <it>Camelina sativa </it>that holds great promise as a biofuel crop in future.</p
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