Effect of Ga₃ and Pinching on Growth, Flowering and Yield of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Cv. Pusa Basanti Gainda

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Experimental Research Farm, R.B. S College Bichpuri, Agra (U.P.) during rabi season of 2019-20 to study the effect of GA3 and pinching on growth, flowering and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications and four concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3 0, 100, 200 and 300ppm) and two pinching levels viz., no pinching and pinching at 30 days after transplanting (DAT). The results indicated that the important growth and flowering characters were significantly influenced by gibberellic acid and pinching treatments. Application of 200 ppm GA3 recorded significantly maximum plant height (68.8 cm), diameter of main stem (2.4 cm), plant spread N-S and E-W (44.5cm and 44.7cm), primary branches/plant (18.8), length of longest primary branches (59.6 cm), bud initiation (54.2 days), length of flower (8.6 cm), number of flower/plant (55.3) and flower yield (219.3 qha-1). The pinching at 30 DAT recorded significantly maximum number of primary branches (16.3 branches/plant), length of longest primary branches (56.6cm), plant spread N-S and E-W (38.2 cm and 38.8cm), number of flowers buds (24.6), length of flower (7.9cm), number of flower/plant (53.0), and flower yield (193.3 qha-1) whereas maximum plant height (65.3 cm)and bud initiation (57.1 days) was found under no pinching