Effects of Phytohormones on Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Metabolism of Some Drought Stressed Crop Plants

This work was conducted to study the effects of exogenously applied phytohormones (gibberellic acid, indole acetic acid and kinetin) on water-stressed maize, cowpea and broad bean plants. It was found that drought adversely-affected the synthesis and translocation of carbohydrates as well as the nitrogenous compounds which resulted particularly in an accumulation of the amino acid proline. Application of phytohormones resulted in a considerable increase in carbohydrates and total nitrogen contents. On the other hand proline accumulation was considerably retarded whatever the plant organ analyzed, the plant species tested and the level of stress or phytohormone used.