Influence of SA, GA3 and Pinching on Growth and Flowering in Verbena

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to find out effect of salicylic acid (SA), GA3, pinching and their interaction on the growth and flowering attributes of verbena × hybrida. Three concentration each of GA3 (100,150 and 200 ppm) and SA (100, 150 and 200 ppm) was foliar sprayed at 21 days after transplanting to run-off stage and pinching was done at 40 days with three replications set in Randomized Block Design. Pinching treatment recorded significantly maximum no. of primary branches/plant, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight of leaves, fresh leaf biomass, leaf area, flower longevity, fresh weight of flower, no. of spikes/plant and peduncle length. However, no. pinching treatment recorded maximum plant height, early bud initiation and early flowering. Spraying of GA3 100 ppm resulted in early bud initiation. GA3 150 ppm recorded fresh weight of leaves, fresh leaf biomass and bud cluster diameter. However, maximum plant height, leaf area, no. of spikes/plant and peduncle length was observed with GA3 at 200 ppm. Among various doses of salicylic acid, SA 100 ppm recorded maximum stem diameter. Early flowering, maximum fresh and dry weight of flower was seen with SA 150 ppm. SA 200 ppm resulted in maximum no. of primary branches/plant and flower diameter. Significant effect of interaction between pinching and plant growth chemicals (GA3 and SA) was observed in most of the growth and flowering attributes.