Effect of growth regulators on seed filling in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) variety Phule Bhaskar during kharif season

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2017 at Post Graduate Institute Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar to study the “Effect of growth regulators on seed filling in sunflower variety Phule Bhaskar during kharif season”.The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications and eight treatments involving variety Phule Bhaskar and the plant growth regulators viz., T1 [Control], T2 [GA3 (250 ppm)], T3 [TIBA (240 ppm)], T4 [NAA (50 ppm)], T5 [Kinetin (200 ppm)], T6 [BA (250 ppm)], T7 [Boron (0.2%)], T8 [Hand Pollination].The present study was conceptualized and executed to find out an appropriate growth regulator for seed filling in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The foliar sprays of PGR’s were given at the time of 50% flowering and seed formation.In case of head diameter, total number of seeds/head, total number of filled seeds/head, total number of unfilled seeds/head, seed filling percentage, harvest index, yield q/ha and oil content; among all the treatments, Treatment T7 (0.2% boron) resulted best performance which was significantly superior over control (T1).