Vol. 11, Issue 6 (2022)

Author(s):
M Satyanarayana, K Usha Kumari, M Paratpara Rao, K Uma Jyothi, E Padma and VK Gupta

Abstract:
Potato is commonly propagated through tubers. For raising of potato in one hectare of land, we require 15-20 tons of seed tubers. To overcome the problem of high cost of the seed tubers, long distance transportation, storage of bulky material etc. use of botanical seed is a viable option by induction of flowering using growth regulators, extended photoperiod etc. With this objective in view, an experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different plant growth regulators on vegetative growth and flowering in potato under natural as well as extended photoperiod in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Four growth regulators viz. gibberellic acid (GA₃), silver thiosulphate (STS), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D)and water as control were sprayed on five heat tolerant genotypes viz., Kufri Surya, HT/10-1554, HT/12-116, HT/12-834 and HT/16-113 under natural and extended photoperiod. Results revealed that flowering response varied with genotype, photoperiod and growth regulator with interaction effects. The genotypes HT/12-1554 and HT/12-834 flowered both under natural as well as extended photoperiod in response to some of the growth regulators. HT/16-113 flowered only under extended photoperiod in response to GA₃@ 50 ppm. Kufri Surya and HT/12-116 did not flower under any treatment.GA₃ @50 ppm and STS @ 2.0 mM were found to be more effective in inducing flowering than IBA @ 10 ppm and 2,4-D @ 50 ppm. Response of the genotypes and effect of growth regulators enhanced under extended photoperiod.