Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth and Yield of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta Linn.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, S. K. N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, SKRAU, Bikaner (Rajasthan) to find out the effect of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of marigold. Treatments consist of two levels of spray i.e. single spray (S1) and double spray (S2) and four levels of each Plant Growth Regulator viz., GA3 (GA50, GA100, GA150 and GA200 ppm) and NAA (N50, N100, N150 and N200 ppm) in African marigold (Tagetes erecta Linn.) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda. The results revealed that single spray of GA3 @ 150 ppm recorded significantly higher plant height (83.30 cm), leaf area (1188.58 cm2), number of flowers per plant (78.49), average weight of flower (4.85 g) and yield of flowers per plant (365.23 g) as well as per hectare (132.27 q/ha). Application of NAA 150 ppm as a single foliar spray significantly increased plant height (72.22 cm), chlorophyll content in leaves (2.89 mg g-1), duration of flowering (69.14 days), yield of flowers per plant (360.09 g) as well as per hectare (13.04 tonnes/ha).