The lodging of some rice cultivars, at harvest time, can cause significant losses in grain yield. The use of plant regulators is one of the alternatives to reduce lodging, however, information on that subject are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the use of ethyl-trinexapac doses (0 g ha-1, 50 g ha-1, 100 g ha-1, 150 g ha-1, and 200 g ha-1), at the floral differentiation stage, in rice cultivars with different types of plants (Caiapó - traditional; BRS Primavera and BRS Soberana - intermediate; and IAC 202 - modern), in order to evaluate grain development and yield. The experiment was carried out in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, during the 2007/2008 growing season. It was observed that the application of 50 g ha-1, 100 g ha-1, and 150 g ha-1 of ethyl-trinexapac, during the floral differentiation stage of the Caiapó, BRS Soberana, and BRS Primavera cultivars, respectively, decreased plants height and eliminated lodging; it was not necessary to use growth regulator for the IAC 202 cultivar, due to its lack of lodging; the application of 50 g ha-1 and 150 g ha-1 of ethyl-trinexapac, during the floral differentiation stage, improved grain yield for the Caiapó and BRS Primavera cultivars, respectively, and the 100 g ha-1 dose interfered little in the BRS Soberana cultivar.
Oryza sativa L.; plant lodging; plant growth regulators
