Effect of plant growth retardant and pinching on growth, flowering and yield of annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) cv. local yellow

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at Instructional Farm, Jambuvadi, Department of Floriculture & Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) from October to March 2023-24. In the case of plant growth retardant, the result revealed that cycocel (1500 ppm) (R2) recorded better result for the growth, flowering and yield parameters as compared to other treatments. In case of pinching, no pinching (P0) showed better result for minimum days to first flower bud appearance (29.51 days) and days to first flowering (36.43 days), maximum flower diameter (6.92 cm), fresh weight of flower (6.49 g) and fresh weight of hundred flowers (530.43 g). While, single pinching (P1) noted better result for leaf area (64.25 cm2) and stem diameter (2.71 cm). Whereas, minimum plant height (87.48 cm), maximum number of branches per plant (32.10), plant spread (E-W) (71.14 cm) & (N-S) (70.44 cm), number of flowers per plant (128.24), flowering span (56.62 days), number of pickings of flowers (11.63), flower yield per plant (391.44 g), flower yield per plot(9.78 kg), flower yield per hectare (28.99 t). In case of interaction, the treatment combination of plant growth retardant cycocel (1500 ppm) with double pinching well performed in plant spread (E-W) (81.94 cm) & (N-S) (85.71 cm), number of flowers per plant (144.00), flower yield per plant (404.91 g), flower yield per plot (10.12 kg), flower yield per hectare (29.99 t). From the present study, it can be inferred that an application of cycocel (1500 ppm) with double pinching (R2P2) increased flower yield in annual chrysanthemum.