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The present research investigated the impact of plant growth regulators in mitigating the effects of heat stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicuwi L.) genotype LST-6 and cultivar Punjab Varkha Bahar-4. In north India, the temperature in the summer season ranges between 25-45 °C and temperature above 28 °C leads to heat stress in plants and negatively affects the reproductive stage of plants. Considering this, we subjected the plants to varying concentrations of GA3 (10, 20, 30 µg/mL) and 4-CPA (15, 45, 75 µg/mL). GA3 application took place three weeks after transplanting, while 4-CPA was administered during the anthesis stage. We recorded observations from both control and treated plants, with a 10-day gap between each spray treatment. The application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) enhanced the plants' ability to withstand high temperatures by improving photosynthetic efficiency, as evidenced by increased chlorophyll and carotenoid levels in the leaves. The level of different biochemical constituents (total protein, starch, total soluble sugars, phenol and proline content) also increased in PGRs treated plants. Application of GA3 and 4-CPA also enhanced the membrane thermostability and reduced lipid peroxidation. The PGRs treated plants exhibited increased plant height, leaf area, pollen viability, fruit set, number of fruits per plant and fruit weight, ultimately improving yield. GA3 and 4-CPA application also increased the total soluble solids, lycopene content and titratable acidity in tomato fruits. Thus, overall improvement was observed with the application of PGRs; however, 75µg /mL 4-CPA was most effective in imparting thermo tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest slashing and burning is a key characteristic of shifting cultivation. Its intensification is a major anthropogenic cause of deforestation, as it reduces forest resilience. We analyzed the reforestation process in the regenerating shifting cultivation lands in India's Western Ghats, a megadiversity hotspot. An actinorhizal shrub, Elaeagnus conferta, was associated with the regenerating thickets' higher density and higher species diversity. Its presence increased the thicket density by >2.8‐fold and the species diversity by >2.5‐fold; these thickets showed >1.5‐fold higher Shannon's diversity index than those without it. Moreover, the thickets containing E. conferta showed >7‐fold more multi‐species seedlings. Liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis showed that rhizosphere soils of E. conferta containing thickets had >10‐fold higher gibberellic acid (GA3) concentrations than the E. conferta‐deplete thickets. When E. conferta was potted separately, its root nodules, roots, and rhizosphere soil showed about 3.6, 2.0, and 0.4 μg/g GA3, respectively. These E. conferta root and rhizosphere soil GA3 concentrations were >10‐fold higher than those shown by other co‐occurring species. These elevated GA3 levels were likely due to E. conferta's association with the rhizosymbiont Frankia elaeagni. Frankia elaeagni's GA3 synthesis may promote plant recruitment by stimulating seed germination and explain why we measured higher seedling density and plant diversity in E. conferta containing thickets. We hypothesize that E. conferta plays a two‐stage pioneering role in the reforestation process by providing GA3 to facilitate seed germination and providing nitrogen for the developing plantlets. We recommend the inclusion of E. conferta in Western Ghats' reforestation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mango is considered as 'king of fruits' in India due to its delicious taste and nutritional status. Extension of fruit shelf life is a prime importance for availability of fresh fruit in market for longer duration and distance transportation. India is the largest producer and a prominent exporter of mango in the world.In this context, the study was conducted to evaluate the effect of preharvest spray of different chemicals and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on mango var. 'Amrapali' for shelf life and its quality. As 'Amrapali' has regular bearer with very good flavor and taste with a late maturing character, selected for shelf life studies. The fruits of mango weresprayed with chemicals viz. CaCl2 1%, CaCl2 2%, Ca(NO3)2 1%, Ca(NO3)2 2%, KNO3 1%, KNO3 2%, GA3 25 mg/l, GA3 50 mg/l, Ethrel 0.1 ml/l and Ethrel 0.2 ml/l prior to harvest. After harvesting, fruits were stored under ambient storage condition. Among all the treatments, GA3 25 mg/l treatment recorded significantly highest fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume and fruit weight at harvest and at fully ripe stage. Application of CaCl2 2% resulted in significantly minimum physiological loss in weight consistently from 2nd day to 16th day of storage besides significantly highest shelf life and quality. Hence, this intervention can contribute in preserving physical and chemical quality attributes for maximum acceptance by consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moisture availability is the major abiotic limitation in rainfed areas of the country. Reduced germination, weak seedlings and poor plant population are the major causes of low productivity of chickpea in rain fed area. Inadequate soil moisture has adverse effect on seedling emergence, germination, vegetative growth as well as reproductive growth and seed yield. Methods: The experiments were conducted at the Agriculture Research Station (Dr. PDKV), Buldana, Maharashtra, India during 2016-17 to 2019-20 (four years). The experiment consisted of 12 treatments of seed priming replicated three times in randomized block design. Result: Based on the results of four years pooled analysis it was observed that seed priming with 0.5 and 1.0% potassium nitrate resulted in higher plant population and recorded higher grain yield of chickpea crop. Seed priming with potassium nitrate for four hours resulted in the higher gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B:C ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vateria indica L. is an endemic arborescent recalcitrant tree species, native to the South-Western-Ghats of India. The natural regeneration process of the species is hindered by many factors including seed recalcitrance. Recently the species has been categorised as vulnerable since the population is fragmented and rapidly declining. Seed development is a highly complicated process which involves the interaction between phytohormones which regulate the process at different stages of morphogenesis. The orthodox seed development is marked by three distinct stages such as histodifferentiation, reserve accumulation and drying but in recalcitrant seeds, drying phase is absent. Recalcitrant seeds show marked differences from orthodox seeds in development. The onset of different stages is marked by a definite peaking and lowering of phytohormones and the hormonal pattern varies in orthodox and recalcitrant seeds. The present study was conducted to understand the interplay of phytohormones during embryogeny and the following natural embryo desiccation in the recalcitrant seeds of Vateria indica L. The present study revealed that the embryogeny and embryo drying in the recalcitrant seeds of Vateria indica L. shows a striking dissimilarity with the characteristic pattern of hormonal flux in orthodox seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crimson Seedless is a coloured grape, gaining popularity in India for its attractive colour, bunch and berry quality with better shelf life. In cultivation of any seedless grape variety, application of GA3 at different stages is very much essential to produce good quality berries and bunches. However, this variety is highly sensitive to excess application which adversely affects bunch quality. Thus, there is a need to standardize mild dose of GA3 for rachis elongation which will help to reduce bunch compactness to a greater extent. Hence, an experiment was initiated to standardize concentration of GA3 for rachis elongation of Crimson Seedless grapes. Three different concentrations of GA3 (viz., 5 ppm, 7.5 ppm, and 10 ppm) were sprayed during pre bloom stage and compared with unsprayed control. Among different treatments, pre-bloom spray of GA3@5 ppm could produce less compact bunches with highest average bunch weight, berry weight, berry length and TSS. However, bunches sprayed with 7.5 ppm and 10 ppm GA3 could also produce good quality bunches, average berry weight with TSS. Because of severe coiling of rachis at 7.5 ppm and 10 ppm GA3 spraying, bunches were too straggly compared to spraying of 5 ppm GA3. The control bunches without GA3 produced very compact clusters with less average bunch weight, berry weight, berry diameter and berry length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ber (Ziziphus maurtiana) is an important minor fruit crop of India. Over the years the crop is now widely domesticated and commercial orchards of Ber are now available. With wide commercialization, many physiological problems, i.e. flowers and fruit drop, embryo abortion, poor flowering and fruit setting, abnormal and small size fruits etc. were observed which cause huge loss to the growers. In order to minimize these problems, over the years many experiments and advancement have been done, and among them, usage of plant growth regulators is one of the most adopted methods and is utilized to improve flowering fruiting and yield with improved fruit quality. The current review discusses the role of different plant growth regulators and how they influence each fruit character. This information could be useful to the researchers in planning further advance research in this aspect and for the commercial growers to decide the proper treatments to mitigate the problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal a member of the Solanaceae family, is a traditional medicinal plant commonly known in India as Ashwagandha. It is used for different diseases such as hiccup, cough, rheumatism, tuberculosis, and exhibits excellent antitumor and anti-bacterial activities as well. Direct organogenesis of plants using mature seeds provides faster response and is also a time saving approach, thus the present study was conducted to investigate the optimal concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators with MS medium for the establishment of an efficient regeneration system in W. somnifera using mature seed as an explant. Therefore, an efficient in vitro protocol for high frequency regeneration has been developed using mature seeds as explant. In the present study, the multiple shoots along with embryogenic callus induction was best seen in MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.5 mg/L) and IAA (0.5 mg/L). Furthermore, MS medium fortified with GA3 (0.3 mg/L) and IBA (3.0 mg/L) alone was suited for shoot elongation and rhizogenesis respectively. The rooted plantlets were hardened and successfully established in the soil. The establishment of a highly reproducible regeneration system would greatly influence the efforts of improvement of the hereby studied medicinal plant species through useful gene transfer technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli is an important vegetable crop and has high nutritional and good commercial value. Sprouting broccoli has about 130 times more vitamin A contents than cauliflower and 22 times more than cabbage. The edible portion of broccoli, the terminal head rather loose, green in colour and the flower stalks are longer than cauliflower. A research experiment has been designed and carried out during 2009-10 and 2010-11 at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Monhanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India to determine the effect of GA3, NAA and their combinations (applied as seedling dipping) on growth, yield and quality improvement of sprouting broccoli. The results clearly indicated significantly good response of the growth regulator applications on growth, yield and quality attributes of sprouting broccoli. GA3 30 mg/l+NAA 30 mg/l treatment (T10) showed best result with respect to head weight, head diameter, plant height, plant spread, projected yield, number of sprouts/plant and sprout weight. GA3 60 mg/l treatment (T2) took least number of days for head initiation, while GA3 80 mg/l treatment (T3) proved to be the most effective among all treatments and required minimum days for head initiation to head maturity. Plant growth regulator treatments significantly improved carotene, total sugar and total chlorophyll content, with highest increase have been recorded in case of T1-GA3 40 mg/l, whereas maximum ascorbic content has been estimated with T9-GA3 20 mg/l+NAA 20 mg/l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field trial was conducted on perlette cultivar of grape under sandy loam soil during the season of 2010-2011. Gibberellic acid (GA3) @ 20, 25, and 50 ppm concentration was applied during fruit development stage along with control (spraying with tap water). Yield /vines were significantly increased (12.23%) by 25 ppm application of GA3 and gave the best results in comparison with control. TSS and Acidity was remain unchanged with the application of GA3 while, lowest weight loss (2.12%) was observed with the spray of 20 ppm. The same treatment proved again as most effective in reducing decay percentage (0.16%) up to third week of storage of grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disti-icr of Kachchh contains many culturally important plants. However, their conservation status is little known due to direct and indirect htinsan activities. This snidywas undertaken with the aim of contributing to rheconservation of the native species of these semi-arid regions through germination trials under laboratory conditions. Mature fruits often selected species were collected randomly from the known habitats to obtain viable seeds. These seeds were pre-treated with growth regulators singly or in combination afrer acid scariflcarion or wirhoutscariijcation. Seeds were found to bedormant due to presence ofthickseed coat ordue to low level ofendogenous hormonal level. Most ofthescseeds required different storage. period to mature. Only seeds of Gspparis cartilaginea germinated without treatment while the other species required treatments. Addition ofgrowth regulators has enhanced seed germination in few taxa singly and in some plant cases in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of foliar GA3 application (0, 10-4, 10-5, or 10-6 M) on the responses of Nigella sativa L. to various levels of N fertilisation (0, 176, 264, 352, or 442 mg N pot-1) was analysed through 2 pot experiments conducted at the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. The N fed plants showed a significant enhancement of capsule number and seed yield plant-1, and nitrate reductase activity, as well as protein and oil yields plant-1, especially upon application of 352 mg N pot-1. Moreover, the effect of basal N was further potentiated following an additional treatment with various GA3 concentrations. However, in contrast to all other parameters, seed oil content decreased with either treatment. Nonetheless, the combined application of 352 mg N pot-1 and 10-5 M GA3 proved to be maximally stimulative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop regulation treatments in Guava viz. one leaf pair pruning, two leaf pair pruning, three leaf pair pruning, GA3 sprays (100, 150 and 200ppm) at flower bud differentiation stage and NAA (600 ppm) at flowering (control) were used to regulate rainy season crop in guava cv. L- 49 during the years 2008-2011. Leaf pair pruning at different levels proved to be most effective in avoiding rainy season crop whereas GA3 at different concentrations seem to be ineffective as compared to control. One leaf pair pruning resulted into maximum yield reduction in rainy season with subsequent maximum yield and fruit weight in winter season during the experimental years. Plants with one leaf pruning produced better quality fruits in both the seasons and recorded maximum TSS and ascorbic acid and minimum acidity. Overall profit was also highest in one leaf pair pruning by withholding rainy season crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]