Effect of ethrel on sex expression in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.)

Abstract

Vegetables especially Cucurbits play a vital role in ensuring the nutritional security of the humans. Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L., 2n = 2x = 40) is one of the most popular warm season vegetable among the cucurbits because of its immense nutraceutical value. Considering this criteria, the present study was focused on increasing the production of pumpkin fruit yield by adopting economically viable technique, by which the farmers can benefit massively. The present study was carried out with the application of growth regulator ethrel (250 ppm) on five different cultivars (CO 1, Pumpkin big, Yellow big, Pennadam local and Melur local) of pumpkin with two stage of application (3 -4 leaf stage and 15 days after first spray) along with control. The result of the study revealed that spraying of ethrel @ 250 ppm at 3-4 leaf stage and 15 days after the first spray highly influences on sex modification in yellow big cultivar than other cultivars. Spraying of ethrel (250 ppm) significantly enhanced the growth parameters and yield by recing the staminate / male flowers and increasing the female/pistillate flowers.