Summary | The effect of different concentrations of growth retardant “Dextril”(C11H18ClN2O7P) on the growth parameters of cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata) (Local variety) was studied during the growing season 2010, at the Agriculture Faculty of Alexandria university / Egypt. The experiment was laid according to a complete randomized design with 4 replicates. Cabbage seedlings were sprayed when the second true leaf was appeared with five levels of “Dextril” (0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 %), to improve growth parameters of seedlings during summer period by limiting stem growth and elongation resulted from high temperature during seedling establishment in nursery. The results showed that, “Dextril” treatment of (0.01 and 0.03%) levels improved seedlings quality and decreased stem height by 13.7 and 28 % respectively compared to the control, 0.05% level did not affect seedling growth, whereas, 0.07 % showed a negative effect on seedling growth where the seedling length did not exceed 6.2 cm . Treating the seedling of cabbage with “Dextril” (0.01 and 0.03%) increased as well, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots compared to the control. The results indicate that spraying cabbage at the second true leaf stage with low concentrations of ‘Dextril” is promising measure for improving the the growth parameters of cabbage seedling grown under high temperature conditions. |