ABSTRACT
Many indigenous chemicals act as growth regulators to influence plant growth. This chapter deals with the application or use of plant growth regulators for altering growth and development of the rice plant at various stages in its life cycle. Plant growth regulators for improving rice germination and emergence under adverse conditions such as herbicide effects, salinity, and disease organisms would benefit rice production. Crop protectants applied to seed or mixed with a herbicide to overcome herbicide phototoxicity have been investigated in several crops including rice. A major reason for investigating rice seed safeners or protectants, particularly in the US, is for red rice control. Much of the research on regulators of seedling growth has been restricted to naturally occurring growth hormones. Use of plant growth regulators to control plant height could reduce lodging, allow higher nitrogen application rates, and increase rice yields.
