The effect of (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and presowing drought hardening on growth and grain yield of wheat

Abstract

The effects on the growth and yield of wheat of two seed treatments, dusting with CCC and presowing drought hardening (soaking and drying), were studied under dryland farming conditions. CCC increased grain yield by up to 88 per cent and the yield increase was due to an increase in the number of grains per fertile tiller. Protein content and bushel weight were unaffected by the treatment. Presowing drought hardening hid no effect on growth or grain yield. The yield increases obtained with CCC suggest that this growth regulator has a good potential for increasing wheat yield in the northern New South Wales wheat belt.