ABSTRACT
Scientists and commercial companies have long recognized the potential market that exists for a plant growth regulator on this large acreage crop. Yet, many chemical companies are making major investments in attempting to identify effective compounds which can be used for yield enhancement on field corn. A. J. Ohlrogge showed in 1968 that low rates of dinoseb applied in the fertilizer band to corn stimulated early vegetative growth. R. R. Johnson reported inconsistent responses to dinoseb, including highly significant grain yield decreases in some corn cultivars. J. Jones et al. tested analogs of 1-triacontanol differing in C-chain length and position of the OH group. While most scientists agree that growth regulators which have a positive influence on agronomic characteristics of corn would be of value, the final test is that harvested yields must be increased or costs of production must be reduced.
