Two field experiments were conducted during two succes1sive growth
seasons (1998/1999) at the Experimental Station of the National Research Centre,
Giza, Egypt, to study the effect of Morphactin ( CF125 ) at the concentratIons of 0.0 ,
50 . 100 and 150 mg I I on vegetative growth characteristics, yielij and yield
components, some bio-chemical constituents of grains as well as thJ anatomical         structure of leaf and stem of maize plants.                                                   I Foliar application of morphactin at the concentration of 50 and ~OO mgll, to
maize plants at elongation stage of maize growth induced significant li,ncreases in
plant height, number of leaves I plant, stem diameter, leaf area ( LA ), leaf area index
( LAI ), Net assimilation rate (NAR) and total dry weight 1 plant, as coinpared with         those of the control.                                                                                       ~ Yield and yield components, l.e. ear length, ear diameter, grain index, grain
yield I plant, grain yield I fed., harvest index and shelling percentag~ were also
Significantly increased in plants received one and twice foliar application of
morphactin. However, increasing morphactin concentrations up to i~50 mg I I
especially when sprayed at elongation and tassel appearance stages of ~aize growth
caused significant decreases in most growth and yield characteristics. CrPde protein,
tOlal sugars, oil percentage were significantly increased in plants receiv1ed one foliar
application of morphactin as compared to untreated plants and other treatrrents. From the anatomical point of view, morphactin treatments slightlr decreased
Ihickness of the upper epidermal layer and showed inconsistent eff~cts among
thickness of the lower epidermal and mesophyll tissue layers. In fontrast, all
morphactin concentrations obviously increased thickness of the mid vien In leaf cross
- sections. Also, stem diameter on cross - section Increased in response to
morphactin treatments, which was accompanied with the increase occurred in the
number of large aoo small vascular bundles I cross - section and dimension         measurements of both length and width of stem vascular bundles.          II Generally, foliar application with SO and 100 mg II of Morpha(;tin to maize
plants cv., single cross 1 0 C~ cnce at elonga!ion stage ( 45 days after sowing) was
the most effective treatment to get better results in increasing growth characteristics,
yield and its components, chemical contents of maize grains, as wen as olh leaf and
stem anatomical structure.