Some aspects of respiration and respiration inhibitors in low temperature effects of the cotton plant.

Respiration of leaf tissue from cotlon plants in the nine leaf stage was found to be severely reduced at temperatures below 15°C. In another study, young cotton plants were exposed to chilling temperature (2.8°C) for 72 hours and the ability of the plant tissues to recover respiration at normal temperatures (15 and 25°C) was examined at periodic intervals. Chilling exposures of 12 hours injured cotton tissues as indicated by increased respiratiou of leaves and roots at 25°C. Further chilling malerially reduced the capacity of the leaves to re-estahlish normal respiration rales at higher temperatures. Picolinic acid, Dexon and matonate were used to study the influence of respiratory inhibitors on the chill damage of the collon plants. The chemicals were applied six hours before cold exposure aud fhe growth and development of cold injured plants was studied to indicate the effectiveness of the treatments. Tissue weights at the final harvests indicated that picolinic acid and Dexon treated plants recovered better after cold injury than the untreated plauts. The results suggest thai 15°C may be a critical temperaliire for many physiological processes of the cotton plant because the supply of energy needed for plant reactionsis restricted due to inadequate respiration. They also indicate that the disturhances in respiration are among the early effects of chilling colton plants and may be the cause of delayed growth and development of cotton plants subjccled to non-lethal chilling exposures. It is concluded that chemicals like picolinie acid and Dexon may he effective through protection of specific systems rather than a general reduction of respiration.