Effect of plant growth retardant and pinching on flowering yield and quality 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) was recorded better result for the 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, double pinching (P2) noted 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), vase life of flower (6.25 days), shelf life (4.88 days) and in-situ longevity of flower (11.61 days). In case of interaction, the treatment combination of plant growth retardant cycocel (1500 ppm) with double pinching well performed in 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), shelf life (5.99 days) and in-situ longevity of flower (13.60 days). 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.