Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and seed yield of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Abstract

An experiment on “Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and seed yield of bottle gourd” was carried out during summer season, 2018. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design (Factorial) with three levels of NAA (50 ppm, 75 ppm, 100 ppm), GA3 (50 ppm, 75 ppm, 100 ppm) and Ethrel (100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm) and control (P0- distilled water spray) sprayed at three stages (S1 - At two true leaf stage, S2 - 1st at two true leaf stage and 2nd at four true leaf stage and S3 - 1st at two true leaf stage, 2nd at four true leaf stage and 3rd at flower initiation stage) and replicated thrice. The results reveal that the interaction between different PGRs and stages of spray showed significant effect. The maximum vine length (6.25 m), number of nodes per vine (46.40), node number to first male flower appearance (7), node number to first female flower appearance (9.40), number of primary branches (11.80), number of fruit/vine (4.80), internodal length (7.90 cm) and seed yield (465.22 kg/ha) with foliar application of Ethrel @ 300 ppm at stage S3 (1st at two true leaf stage, 2nd at four true leaf stage and 3rd at flower initiation stage). Significantly highest fruit length (61.70 cm) was observed when plant sprayed with GA3 @ 75 ppm at stage S3 (1st at two true leaf stage, 2nd at four true leaf stage and 3rd at flower initiation stage) and the maximum fruit diameter (11.26 cm) was obtained when plant sprayed with NAA @ 100 ppm at two true leaf stage (S1). Therefore, it may be concluded that foliar application of Ethrel @ 300 ppm sprayed at different stages of growth i.e. at two true leaf stage, four true leaf stage and flower initiation stage was beneficial for higher seed yield and better growth of plant.