Effect of diniconazole on the growth and taking roots after transplanting of Sesamum indicum ‘Baekseol’ plug seedlings

Sesamum indicum ‘Baekseol’ plug seedlings were treated with the fungicide diniconazole as a growth retardant in comparison to paclobutrazole. Seeds were sown in 128-cell plug trays. Paclobutrazole (0, 15, 30, and 60 mg L⁻¹) and diniconazole (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg L⁻¹) were foliage sprayed when first leaves were developed. Stem growth was similar between paclobutrazole and the control, but strongly retarded by increasing concentrations of diniconazole. Leaf numbers did not differ in all treatments. As the diniconazole concentration increased, leaves became thicker, while leaf width and length decreased. In diniconazole treatment, shoot fresh weight decreased, but root fresh weight increased. Therefore, the T/R ratio was lowered by diniconazole treatment. After transplanting, the taking roots of paclobutrazol-treated plants were below average (< 50%), whereas, with diniconazole treatments, it was 100%, regardless of treatment concentrations. From the above results, 100 mg L⁻¹ of diniconazole is the most appropriate for growth retardation of S. indicum ‘Baekseol’ plug seedlings.