Impact of Plant Growth Regulators on Vegetative Parameters and Yield of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was to study the “Effect of plant growth regulators on vegetative parameters and yield of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.)” was conducted out at the Agricultural Research Station, Binjhagiri, Department of Vegetable Science, SOADU, Bhubaneswar, Odisha during rabi 2023-24 to assess the effect of various plant growth regulators viz. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)@50ppm and 100ppm, Gibberellic acid (GA3) @50ppm and 100ppm, Etherel @150ppm and 200ppm, Maleic Hydrazide (MH) @ 150 ppm and 200 ppm, along with control on growth and yield of Zucchini. The experiment was planned in a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications. The growth regulators were applied twice, i.e., first spray at 2nd true leaf stage and second spray at 4th leaf stage. The study revealed application of NAA @100ppm was found to be the most effective in increasing plant height (47.47cm), leaf area (108.50 sq.cm), number of leaves per plant (11.96), number of primary branches per plant (11.96), number of female flowers (12.08)and number of male flowers (15.23) per plant, femaleness percentage (50.66%),average number of fruit per plant (9.08), the average single fruit weight (1255.35g), fruit length (18.36cm), fruit girth (16.96cm), fruit set percentage (34%), yield per plant (5.62kg), yield per plot (82.74kg) and total yield per hectare (138.27 t). Application of NAA @ 100 ppm as foliar spray also decreased the number of male flowers per plant, lowered male: female flower ratio in zucchini. From the results of the study, it could be concluded that NAA @100ppm was the most effective growth regulators in improving the growth and yield with a maximum benefit-cost ratio (3.85), also net and gross income of Zucchini significantly over control, followed by Etherel @150ppm.