Abstract

The FMT 701 and Fibermax 966 genotypes of the herbaceous cotton plants showed distinct morphophysiological characteristics due to their unique genetics. Henceforth, they are likely to have differences both in the foliar anatomic characters and in the photosynthetic apparatus due to the application of the mepiquat chloride (MC) growth regulator. The goal of the present work was to assess two genotypes of cotton plants with unique genetic characteristics through the application of increasing doses of MC by means of anatomic analyses of the foliar limb. The experiment was led in field conditions in the region of Cerrado, and experimental delineation employed was the randomized blocks, in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme totaling 10 treatments, with 4 repetitions making up a total of 40 parcels. MC was applied through foliar route, parceled in three applications performed 50, 60 and 70 days after the emergence, and such treatments consisted of the application of fours doses of MC (500; 1,000; 1,500; 2,500 mL ha^-1) and a witness. The results obtained from the FMT 701 and Fibermax 966 genotypes suggest that MC exerted distinct influence upon the thicknesses of the adaxial and abaxial epidermises, palisade and lacuna parenchyma and the total thickness of both the internervural region and the region next to the central nervure. The number of adaxial stomata was reduced due to the doses of MC, exerting influence upon the photosynthetic rate in both genotypes.

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