Effect of plant growth regulators on physico-chemical parameters of taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) Schott.]

Abstract

Colocasia [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) Schott.], which is also known as Taro, Arvi, Katchu and eddode belongs to the family Aracea is an important edible aroid. Africa ranks first in area and production of colocasia and in India colocasia is favourite among Gujarat, Konkan region of Maharashtra and several other parts of south India. The cormels, corms, leaves and petioles are used as a vegetable and considered as rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Due to increasing demand of taro, there is a need to increase its yield. Foliar application of plant growth regulators is reported to improve growth and cormel yield. Hence, the present investigation has been carried out in the Horticulture Research unit, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi during Kharif season of 2017. There were eleven treatments used namely T1- Naphthalene acetic acid (25 ppm), T2- Naphthalene acetic acid (50 ppm), T3- Indole Acetic Acid (25 ppm), T4- Indole Acetic Acid (50 ppm), T5- Maleic hydrazide (50 ppm), T6- Maleic hydrazide (100 ppm), T7- Gibberellic acid (100 ppm), T8- Gibberellic acid (200 ppm), T9- Ethrel (75 ppm), T10- Ethrel (150 ppm) and T11- Control (water spray only). To find out feasibility of increment in growth of taro by means of application of plant growth regulators on the till date most accepted variety of taro, Muktakeshi by the growers in the state of Jharkhand. Among the eleven treatments used GA3 at 200 ppm was found to record maximum growth, yield and physico-chemical parameters except content of non-reducing sugar in cultivation of taro.