Performance of Late Sown Wheat in Response to Foliar Application of Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf Extract Rendimiento de Trigo Sembrado Tarde en Respuesta a la Aplicación Foliar de Extracto de Hojas de Moringa oleifera Lam.

A rise in temperature during early spring inducing early maturity is a key yield-reducing factor in late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves are rich in zeatin, a cytokinin that plays a role in delaying leaf senescence, in addition to other growth-enhancing compounds such as ascorbates, phenolics, and minerals. The objective of this study was to optimize dose and optimum growth stage for foliar-applied moringa leaf extract (MLE) and its role in delaying leaf senescence in late sown wheat. The wheat crop was shown on 16 December 2008; MLE (diluted 30 times) was applied at different growth stages from tillering to heading and heading alone and distilled water was sprayed as a control. All the MLE treatment results were better than the control. However, an increase of 10.73%, 6.00%, 10.70%, and 4.00% was evident in 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index, respectively, with MLE spray at tillering + jointing + booting + heading. The MLE spray used only at heading gave 6.84%, 3.17%, 6.80%, and 3.51% more than the control 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index, respectively. The MLE extended seasonal leaf area duration (Seasonal LAD) by 9.22 and 6.45 d over the control when applied at all growth stages and a single spray at heading, respectively. We conclude that it is possible that the presence of growth-promoting substances in MLE foliar spray can delay crop maturity and extend seasonal LAD and the grain-filling period, thereby leading to greater seed and biological yields in late sown wheat. Aumento en temperatura durante inicios de primavera induciendo madurez temprana es un factor clave en la reducción de rendimiento en siembra tardía de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.). Las hojas de Moringa oleifera Lam. son ricas en zeatina, una citoquinina que tiene rol en retraso de senescencia foliar, además de otros compuestos que mejoran crecimiento como ascorbatos, fenoles, y minerales. Este estudio se planeó para optimizar dosis y estado de crecimiento óptimo para extracto foliar de moringa (MLE) aplicado foliarmente y su rol en retraso de senescencia foliar en siembra tardía de trigo. El cultivo de trigo se sembró el 16 de septiembre y MLE (diluido 30 veces) se aplicó en diferentes estados de crecimiento desde macollamiento hasta espigadura y en espigadura, mientras se asperjó agua destilada como control. En resultados todos los tratamientos MLE fueron mejores que el control. Sin embargo, un aumento de 10,73; 6,00; 10,70 y 4,00% fue evidente en peso de 1000 granos, rendimiento biol