Influence of plant growth regulators on growth, flowering and fruit yield of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with three levels
each of five plant growth regulators namely, (IAA, TIBA,
IBA, GA3 and Ethrel) respectively, were sprayed at second
and fourth leaves stage on bottle gourd plants to find out
their response on growth, flowering and fruit yield. The
study was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, CCS,
Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Springsummer
season of 2017-18. The results clearly indicated that
application of Ethrel 200 ppm significantly increased most
of the growth and fruit yield attributes over control treatment.
The spraying of Ethrel 200 ppm significantly reduced the
length of internodes (11.4 cm), days to appearance of first
male flower and early fruit harvest (56.4; 62.7 days), number
of staminate flowers per plant (102.7), sex ratio (6.0) as well
as main vine length at final harvest (353.7 cm), whereas the
same dose significantly increases number of primary
branches /vine (16.8), numbers of pistillate flowers per plant
(17.2), longer fruit length & more diameter (31.5; 7.3 cm),
number of fruits per vine (7.6), average fruit weight (825.6 g)
and fruit yield per plot and per hectare (27.6 kg and 349.2 q),
respectively. Whereas, the spray of GA3 60 ppm significantly
reduced the number of primary branches per plant (9.9),
number of pistillate flowers per plant (8.7), fruit length &
diameter (22.9; 5.8 cm) number of fruit per plant (3.3) and
fruit yield per plot and per hectare (18.7 kg, 238.4 q). From
the study, it was concluded that bottle gourd cv.GH-22 plants
when sprayed with Ethrel 200 ppm produced the maximum
fruit yield (349.2q/ha).