Early season ethephon application effects on cotton photosynthesis

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) can compensate for a limited amount of early floral bud (square) loss induced by early ethephon ethephon [(2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid] application, but ethephon has been found to alter the photosynthetic process in many species. A field study was conducted in 1989 and 1990 to determine how early season ethephon application affected cotton photosynthesis throughout the growing season. Early season squares were removed by band or induced to abscise with a spray application of 0.28 kg ha −1 ethephon. Dry matter harvests were collected and light-saturated leaf CO 2 exchange rates (CER) measured periodically throughout both growing seasons [...]