NEONICOTINOIDS INSECTICIDES FOR ENHANCING COTTON PLANT TOLERANCE AGAINST WATER-DEFICIT STRESS.

Field study was conducted to evaluate the capability of two neonicotinoids as seed treatment to alleviate the negative effects of water deficit on cotton plants. The effect of water-deficit reflected in a significant decrease in plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content index, photosynthesis (parameter Fv/Fm), also a significant induction in antioxidant enzyme activity and proline content was obtained, while Protein content was slightly changed. A reduction ranged between 38.7-44.1 in the obtained seed cotton/plant occurred as a result of water-deficit. The two neonicotinoids had a phytotonic effect on the cotton plant with a significant increase in both morphological and physiological parameters. A reduction in antioxidant enzymes activity and proline content was observed with the two compounds. Both of them succeeded to maintain cotton yield stability (less than 7% reduction) under water-deficit condition (19.4%). The results reflected the capability of the tested neonicotinoids to mitigate the adverse effects of water deficit on cotton plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]