The global cotton industry is distinguished by its numerous industrial uses of the plume as well as by high production costs. Excessive vegetative growth can interfere negatively with productivity, and thus, applying growth regulators is essential for the development of the cotton culture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development and yield of the cotton cultivar cv. FMT 701 with the application of mepiquat chloride to seeds and leaves. The experimental design used a randomized block design with four replications, arranged in bands. The treatments consisted of mepiquat chloride doses (CM) (0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 g i.a. kg^-1 of seeds) applied directly to the cotton seeds and CM management by foliar spray using a 250 mL ha^-1 dose that was administered under the following conditions: divided into four applications (35, 45, 55 and 65 days after emergence ); as a single application at 70 days; and without the application of the product. The nitrogen content was evaluated and it was observed that the application of growth regulator increased the levels of nitrogen in the cotton leaves. Applying CM to seeds controlled  the initial plant height and stem diameter, whereas foliar application reduced the height of the plants. Higher cotton kernel yields are obtained with a dose of 4 g i.a. kg^-1 of seeds.