Studies on the effect of caffeine on growth and yield parameters in Helianthus annuus L. variety Modern

In present investigation, the seeds of Helianthus annuus L. variety Modern were treated with nine different concentrations (0.05%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.25%, 1.50%, 1.75% and 2.00%) of caffeine to raise the M1 generation and the effect of caffeine on seedling height on 30 th day of sowing, mature plant height, days to maturity and yield parameters was observed. Generally, the lower doses of caffeine were found stimulatory for the seedling height on 30 th day of sowing, mature plant height, days to maturity and 100-seeds weight. While, the number of seeds in treated plants showed a dose dependent increase with the increasing doses of mutagen. It shows that caffeine in its lower doses has stimulatory effect on growth and yield in Helianthus annuus L. while the higher doses have inhibitory effect and reduce the growth and yield upto some extent except number of seeds.