Impact of Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Flowering Parameters of African Marigold (Tagetes Erecta L.) Cv. Pusa Basanti Gainda in Western Plain Zone of U.p.

Abstract

Present study was carried out at the Horticultural Research Centre (HRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh during the year 2020.The findings of the present study are summarized below. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. Treatment details were T1 (Control), T2 (GA3 @ 50 ppm), T3 (GA3 @ 100 ppm), T4 (GA3 @ 150 ppm), T5 (GA3 @ 200 ppm) T6 (GA3 @ 250 ppm), T7 (GA3 @ 300 ppm), T8 (GA3 @ 350 ppm) and T9 (GA3 @ 400 ppm) 20 DAT. The maximum plant height (85.70 cm) at 60 days stage under the treatment T6 and minimum plant height was recorded under the control (T1). The maximum plant spread east to west (24.97 cm) at 60 days stage under the treatment T6 and minimum plant spread from east to west was recorded under the control (T1). The maximum plant spread of north to south (25.50 cm) was found when plant sprayed with T6 at 60 days of observation, whereas minimum plant spread of north to south was recorded under the control (T1). The maximum number of branches per plant (18.17) was recorded when plants were sprayed with the treatment T6 at 60 days of observation and the minimum number of brunches per plant was observed under the control (T1). The minimum days taken to first flower bud appearance T6 emerged earlier flower bud initiation (41.20 days), however the maximum days bud appearance of first flower (54.61 days) were taken under the control (T1). The minimum number days taken to opening of first flower (81.20 days) were noted under the treatment T6. However, the maximum days taken to opening of first flower (91.87 days) were taken under control (T1). The maximum duration of flowering (71.99 days) when plants were treated with T6 and minimum duration of flowering (50.87) had been registered with control (T1). Flower weight was also maximum under T6 recorded significantly highest weight of flower (9.87 g) under the treatment of T6 and minimum weight of flower (4.93 g) was registered with control (T1). The number of flower per plant (47.40) was obtained from the plant treated with T6 and minimum number of flowers per plant (29.27) under T4 was recorded. Among the treatments applied, the maximum flower yield per plant (809.72 g) obtained under the treatment T5 and the minimum flower yield per plant (388.40 g) was noted under the treatment control (T1). The flower yield per plot was significantly affected by the application of different concentrations of GA3 of application in comparison with control. Among the treatments T5 gave maximum flower yield per plot (6.66 Kg) and minimum flower yield per plot (3.72 Kg) were noted under control (T1). Flower yield was significantly affected by the GA3 as compared to control (T1). Among the treatments, the maximum flower yield per hectare (255.92 q/ha) had been recorded when the plants were sprayed with T5 and the lowest flower yield per hectare (143.26 q/ha) was found under control (T1).