Effect of plant growth regulators and pinching on growth and flower yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Abstract

Marigold is one of the commercially exploited flower crop that belong to the family Asteraceae. Presently, in our country the commercial extraction of marigold carotenoids is becoming popular in many states. The production of economical yield and better quality of marigold flowers, requires proper crop management techniques. Crop regulation and flower forcing are important techniques to make the marigold production profitable. This can be done by adopting pinching and application of PGRs. Hence, an experiment was carried out in the Department of Horticulture, in factorial randamized block design replicated thrice with 14 treatments with two F1 hybrids viz., Gold Benz tall and Maxima yellow. The experiment comprised of GA3 @ 50, 100 and 150ppm, NAA @ 50, 100 and 150ppm, MH @ 250, 500 and 750ppm, Alar @ 200, 400 and 600ppm and pinching with untreated control. The study revealed that the growth parameter like plant height, number of laterals per plant, number of leaves per plant were significantly influenced by the application of GA3 and NAA. Among the varieties, Gold Benz tall performed better for all the growth attributes but var. Maxima yellow performed better for the number of laterals per plant. The plant sprayed with of GA3 @ 150ppm registered the maximum plant height (70.44cm), number of laterals per plant (16.13), number of leaves per plant (383.76) and leaf area (113.51cm2) and control evinced the least values in the growth parameters. Application of GA3 and NAA significantly enhanced flowering when compared to control, while pinching delayed flowering. The treatment of GA3 @ 150ppm in both Gold Benz tall (30.13 and 406.21 g plant-1) and Maxima yellow (33.16 and 402.83 g plant-1 recorded maximum number of flowers per plant and flower yield respectively as compared to control. Based on the above results, it is revealed that foliar spray of GA3 @ 150 ppm was found to be superior in increasing the yield of flowers in both the varieties.

Studies on the Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Flowering and Xanthophyll Content of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

“…The delayed flowering in marigold with the application of MH might be due to lesser mitotic activity and preservation of biosynthesis of Gibberellicacid like substances. The present results are in agreement with the findings of Sathappan (2018) and ArtiArha et al, (2019). Similar results were also reported by Girisha et al, (2012), Girwaniet al, (1990 and Khan et al, (2012).…”

Study on effect of different growth hormones on growth, yield and quality of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L)

“…As regard the treatment T 8 (CCC @2000ppm) recorded dry matter production (62.93 g per plant), days taken for flower bud appearance (32.61 days), days to first harvest (51.53 days). Similar findings were noticed by YR Khobragade et al, (2019) [9] and Queenie Syngkrem et al, (2018) [5] observed in white marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Cv. Vanilla.…”

“…Similar result were noted by C.T. Sathappan (2018) [5] GA 3 @150ppm in African marigold F1 hybrid viz., Gold Benz and Maxima yellow and Ramesh Kumar et al, (2010) [4] in African marigold cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda foliar application of (GA 3 @200ppm) and Mithilesh Kumar et al, (2014) [8] .…”

Effect of plant growth regulators on the performance of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda

“…Increase in number of flowers per plant lends support from previous discussion on the flowering parameter such as number of flowers per branch. Comparable finding was stated by Sathappan (2018) in Tagetes erecta.…”