Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol. 22, April Suppl. Issue 2016; Page No.(39-43)

INFLUENCE OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH, SEX EXPRESSION, YIELD AND QUALITY OF MUSKMELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.)

Jagdeep Chaurasiya, R. B. Verma, Mukhtar Ahmad, A. Adarsh, Rajesh Kumar and Tej Pratap

Abstract

In a field experiment three concentrations each of GA3, NAA and Ethrel were applied at the 2-leaf and 4- leaf stages on Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) along with control, during the spring summer season of 2014. The objective of present study was to study the effects of Gibberellic acid (GA3), Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and Ethrel applied as foliar sprays, on growth, sex expression, yield and quality attributes of muskmelon. The results revealed that GA3 and NAA promoted melon growth, while a significant inhibition with Ethrel was observed. The maximum stem length (156.32 cm), Number of leaves plant-1 (89.90), number of nodes in main stem (34.29) and average fruit weight (0.94 kg) were registered by the treatment GA3 60 ppm. Whereas ethrel 150 ppm proved one of the best treatment in respect of number of primary branches plant-1 (6.66), reduces days to first pistillate flower (43.58), increased number of pistillate flower plant-1 (17.05), lowest sex ratio (7.19), highest no of fruits plant-1 (4.52) and yield ha-1 (35.09 t). Ethrel 200 ppm significantly delayed the anthesis of first staminate flower (8.70 days) from anthesis of first pistillate flower and earliest fruit maturity or lowest number of days (66.50 days) taken to first fruit harvest and also significantly increase the TSS (11.30 0Brix) and total sugar (11.35%) content of fruits.

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