EFFECTS OF AMO-1618, MALEIC HYDRAZIDE, AND GIBBERELLIN SEED TREATMENT ON THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION OF DATURA TATULA

Treatment of Datura tatula with Amo-1618 increased the fresh and dry weights of the first-year plants, but decreased the alkaloid content. Maleic hydrazide (MH) treatment induced an increase in plant weight and total alkaloid content but a decrease in plant height. Second generation studies indicated a reduction of the fresh and dry weights of the Amo-1618 group, a considerable decrease in the alkaloid concentration of the MH group, and a decrease in the total alkaloid content of both groups. The chlorophyll concentration was not affected. A selective solvent extraction was performed on the leaf-tops. Gibberellin treatment of seeds obtained from plants previously treated with the chemicals generally reversed any inhibitory effect demonstrated by the chemicals on growth, alkaloid concentration and content, and the concentration of various selective-solvent fractions. Gibberellin seed treatment of the controls caused decreases in fresh weight, total alkaloid content, and the alcohol-soluble fractions of the plant.