| Field, greenhouse and growth chamber studies were conducted to study foliar applied methanol for enhancing yield and drought tolerance in cotton. The treatments consisted of methanol formulation mixes, application timing, number, and plant drought response to methanol. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was the primary crop of interest, but radishes ( Raphanus sativus L.), jalapeno peppers (Capsicum annum ), habanero peppers (Capsicum chinensus) and bachelor's button (Centaurea cyanus L.) were examined as well.;Field studies were conducted with cotton from 1993 through 1996. The first set of studies evaluated the effect of several additive mixes of methanol: nitrogen (N), iron (Fe), and glycine. The second set of studies examined the effect of irrigation by number of methanol applications. Seedcotton and lint yield, plant height, and boll number were unaffected by the methanol treatments.;The pepper greenhouse study used six different varieties of jalapeno peppers 'Jalapa', 'M', 'Mitla', 'TAM Mild', 'TAM Veracruz', and 'Early'. An increase in leaf area was noted for methanol treatments in the jalapeno cultivars 'M' and 'Mitla', but not in any of the others treated. There was no increase in pod number or weight for any jalapeno cultivar.;The growth chamber studies evaluated cotton plants subjected to water stress. There was a positive response to methanol treatments, but an equally positive response when plants were misted with water alone. There was an increase in leaf area and total plant weight for plants treated with either methanol or water, as well as an increase in their ability to survive under chronic drought stress.;From these studies, no methanol formulation, timing, or condition can be recommended to facilitate the use of methanol as a crop yield enhancer in cotton. |
