Response of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) to Different Plant Growth Regulators under Agro-Climatic Conditions of Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Okra is one of the important vegetable crops of India and Chhattisgarh. Okra is an annual vegetable crop. It grows quickly, tall and bears maximum number of fruits, which contributes to the maximum yield per unit area. The field experiment was carried out at Agriculture Research Farm, School of Agriculture Science, Technology and Research, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh) India during kharif season of the years 2018-19. The plant growth regulators have great potential for plant growth improvement but the major constant in the use of plant growth regulators on okra is limited information about most suitable PGR and its appropriate quantity, stage of application, crop specificity and seasons. The treatments T1 and T2 were differ non-significantly, however, significantly minimum plant height was observed (28.41 cm) in T9 (Plain water). The treatments T2 and T4 were differ non-significantly. While, significantly lowest number of leaves per plant was 9.93 recorded in T9 (Plain water). The highest number of branches per plant recorded in 4.40 in T4 (IAA - 200ppm) followed by 4.27 in T3 (IAA - 100 ppm), 3.97 in T2 (GA3 - 50 ppm) and 3.19 in T1 (GA3 - 25 ppm). Whereas, significantly minimum number of branches per plant observed 2.67 in T9 (Plain water). Application of IAA increases number of branches per plant in present investigation. Among the treatments with the application of IAA – 200 ppm (T4) recorded significantly minimum days to first flowering of 34.67 days followed by 34.93 days in T3 (IAA - 100 ppm), 35.47 days in T6 (Triacontanol - 2000 ppm) and 36.13 days in T7 (Salisylic Acid - 1.0 μM). The treatments T3, T4, T6 and T7 were differ non-significantly. It was observed that the significantly highest yield of 214.09 q/ha was recorded in T4 (IAA - 200 ppm) followed by 201.85 q/ha in T3 (IAA - 100 ppm), 187.23 q/ha in T2 (GA3 - 50 ppm) and 174.50 q/ha in T1 (GA3 – 25 ppm). The treatments T2, T3 and T4 were differ non-significantly.