Growth and accumulation of dry mass in squashes with fruiting induced by cytokinin and auxin

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to evaluate growth and accumulation of dry mass in “Atlas” squash plants with fruiting induced by cytokinin and auxin. The work was conducted from March to June 2018. The treatments were constituted of 6 proportions of plant growth regulators, 0/0 (control); 0/100; 25/75; 50/50; 75/25; 100/0% of the concentration of 2.5 and 10.0 mg L-1 CPPU cytokinin and IBA auxin, respectively, and applied in two different ways: via ovary and through the leaves. A randomizedcomplete block design with 4 replicates was used. The results showed that all treatments affected the studied variables. The proportions 25/75 and 50/50% applied through the leaves were the ones that best favored the growth. The use of 0/100% via ovary stimulates growth and accumulation of root mass, but it does not stimulate fruiting. The accumulation of fruit mass was elevated by treatments 50/50% via leaves and 75/25% via ovary.