Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses which adversely affect crop growth and yield. Drought induced changes are mainly related metabolic functions, such as reduced synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, accumulation of osmoprotectants like proline in the cell, decline in the cell membrane stability. In order to overcome the drought, the antitranspirants are applied as foliar spray. The present investigation was carried out to find the effect of foliar application of different antitranspirant on growth and yield of black gram (Vigna mungo). A field experiment was conducted at a farmer’s field of sivapuri village, Chidambaram taluk, Cuddalore district during March-May 2017. The treatments consisted of three irrigation interval [ 5 DAI( Days after irrigation), 10 DAI and 15 DAI] and foliar application of antitranspirants [T1- control, T2- PPFM(pink pigmented facultative methalotrophs), T3- salicylic acid, T4- miracle gold, T5- green gold, T6- ATP 67@ 0.3%, T7- ATP67@0.5%, T8- ATP 68@ 0.3%, and T9- ATP 68@ 0.5%]. The results of the study revealed that increase in the irrigation interval consistently decreased the growth and yield of blackgram. Application of antitranspirants to the blackgram reduced the impact of drought in respect of growth and yield. Application of the antitranspirants ATP67@0.3% recorded highest LAI(2.06), number of branches per plant(9.1), pod length(5.72 cm), number of seeds per pod (5.16), grain (1106.56 kg ha-1 ) and stover yield ( 1292.56 kg ha-1). However, other antitranspirants also significantly improved the growth and yield of blackgram significantly. Water sprayed control(T1) recorded the lowest LAI(1.7), number of branches per plant(6.4), pod length(3.23 cm), number of seeds per pod(4.24), grain(792.33 kg ha-1 ) and stover yield ( 969.98 kg ha-1).
