Response of dahlia to different concentrations of growth retardants for plant growth and flowering

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in rabi season of 2023-24 at PG Research Farm Horticulture Section, College of Agriculture Nagpur, Dr. PDKV, Akola to evaluate “Effect of MH and CCC concentrations on plant growth and flowering in dahlia”. The treatment comprised of different concentrations of Maleic hydrazide (750 ppm, 1000 ppm, 1250 ppm, 1500 ppm), Cycocel (3000 ppm, 3500 ppm, 4000 ppm, 4500 ppm) and Control (Water spray).The treatments were replicated thrice in Completely Randomized Design. The first foliar spray was applied on plants 20 days after transplanting and second 15 days after first spray. From the present investigation it was observed that the growth parameters and flowering parameters were significantly influenced by MH and CCC. As regards growth parameters, it was found that significantly minimum plant height (40.36 cm), and intermodal length (6.56 cm), maximum stem diameter (1.10 cm), and leaf area (151.74 cm-2) were recorded in the treatment T5 (MH 1500 ppm). Whereas, maximum total chlorophyll content (1.54 mg g-1) was recorded in treatment T9 (CCC 4500 ppm). The maximum number of leaves plant-1 (36.43) was recorded in the treatment T1 (Control). In case of flowering parameters, length of flower stalk (28.44 cm) recorded minimum with the treatment T5 (MH 1500 ppm). Whereas minimum days required for flower bud emergence from transplanting (36.72 days), minimum days required for opening of flower from transplanting (53.15 days), maximum bud size (3.74 cm) and maximum flower diameter (17.15 cm) were recorded in the treatment T9 (CCC 4500 ppm).