Gibberellic acid and Trichoderma viride used in various techniques to enhance the growth and yield of onions (Allium cepa L.) cv. Agrifound Light Red.

Abstract

During Rabi 2014-15 and 2015-16, a field experiment was carried out at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, (M.P.) to investigate the effects of Trichoderma viride and gibberellic acid on the growth and yield of onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Agrifound Light Red. The maximum plant height (68.67, 66.60, and 64.53 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (18.67, 17.82, and 16.97), leaf length (62.83, 61.17, and 59.50 cm), and leaf width (1.14, 1.12, and 1.10 cm) at the first, second, and pooled over the control (T1, i.e., GA3 0 mg + T. viride 0). Growth analytical parameters include (668.47, 656.97, and 612.72 cm2) leaf area plant-1, (4.46, 4.09, and 3.71) leaf area index, (1.77, 1.74, and 1.71) bulb/green top ratio, and (1.49, 1.48, and 1.46) bulb neck thickness at the first, second, and pooled over to control (T1 i.e., GA3 0 mg + T. viride 0). Significantly higher fresh weight of bulb plant-1 (44.43, 43.31, and 42.18g) and dry weight of bulb (28.13, 28.10, and 28.07g) for 100g fresh weight. Bulb diameter (5.36, 5.33, and 5.31 cm), bulb length (5.11, 5.90, and 6.01 cm), and bulb yield (329.94, 323.57, and 326.76 qha-1) were measured in the first, second, and pooled years of treatment T11 (GA3 100 mg and soil treatment of T. viride (10 kg ha-1). The lowest bolting percentage (0.10, 0.07, and 0.09%) and highest bulb yield (16.04, 15.73, and 15.89 kg plot-1) and (329.94, 323.57, and 326.76 qha-1) were found in treatment T11 (GA3 100 mg and soil treatment of T. viride, 10 kg ha-1). Additionally, it showed the strongest antagonistic effect against basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporu sp. Cepae.