Efficacy of Biostimulants on Growth, Flowering and Quality of China aster cv. Kamini

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of biostimulants on growth, flowering and quality of China aster cv. Kamini with thirteen treatments such as two concentrations of biostimulants sprayed at four frequencies (first, second, third and fourth spray at 45, 60, 75, 90 days after transplanting) and untreated control. Each treatment was replicated thrice in randomized complete block design (RCBD). The parameters such as plant height (cm) no. of leaves, leaf area (cm2), stem girth(mm), no. of primary branches, no. of secondary branches and total dry weight of plant(g) were checked as growth parameters. Moreover, days taken for first flowering, days to 50% flowering  and duration of flowering are the checked flowering parameters whereas shelf life of loose flowers (hrs), vase life of cut flowers (days), stalk length (cm), flower weight (g) and flower diameter (cm) are the flower quality parameters. Among the different treatments, GA3@ 200 ppm (T1) registered maximum plant height (65.07 cm), number of leaves (115.67) and leaf area per plant (4259.30 cm2), stem girth (12.71 mm), number of primary (9.73) and secondary branches (13.00), total dry weight per plant (45.03 g). Regarding the flowering parameters; among different treatments, minimum number of days to first flower bud initiation (59.00) and 50 per cent flowering (73) was recorded with GA3 @ 200 ppm (T1). However, control (T13) recorded minimum. As to the flower quality parameters, shelf life and vase life was recorded maximum (41.00 hours and 8.17 days) by Azospirillum @ 8 per cent (T12) and Biovita @ 1 per cent (T8), respectively. Also, the maximum stalk length (27.50 cm) was observed with GA3 @ 200 ppm (T1). The highest flower weight (2.40 g) and flower diameter (7.39 cm) was observed with Azospirillum @ 8 per cent (T12).