1. Efficacy of Plant Growth Regulators on Sex Expression, Earliness and Yield Components in Bitter Gourd.
- Author
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Ghani, Muhammad Awais, Amjad, Muhammad, Iqbal, Qumer, Nawaz, Aamir, Ahmad, Tanveer, Hafeez, Osama-Bin-Abdul, and Abbas, Mazhar
- Subjects
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PLANT growth , *MOMORDICA charantia , *SEXING of plants , *PLANT yields , *PLANT regulators - Abstract
Bitter gourd is an important vegetable among cucurbits cultivated extensively on a commercial scale in Pakistan. Studies were carried out to assess the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) at different growth stages on sex expression, fruit and seed yield of bitter gourd cv. Faisalabad Long. Three concentrations each of GA3 (25, 50 & 75 ppm), Ethrel (400, 500 & 600 ppm), and NAA (50, 100 & 150 ppm) were applied at three different stages namely Si (2-leaf stage), S2 (2-leaf and flower initiation stage) and S3 (2-leaf, flower and fruit initiation stage). Application of GA3 @ 25 ppm significantly reduced number of days to first flower (40 days) and first harvest (54 days) at S3. Similarly male to female flower ratio was lowest (11.83) in plants sprayed with GA3 @ 75 ppm at Si while fruit set percentage was highest (90%) with similar application at S2; however, both fruit length and fruit diameter were highest with similar dose in plants sprayed at S2. Number of fruits and seed yield vine"1 was significantly higher among all the PGRs (GA3, ethrel and NAA) when plants were sprayed with NAA @ 100 ppm at S2and Si, respectively. Overall results revealed that application of NAA proved to be better for different yield and yield related traits in bitter gourd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013