Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

The investigation was aimed to find out the effect of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and quality chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with sixteen treatments including various plant growth regulators with different concentration viz. GA3, NAA, SA (100, 150 and 200 ppm each), Triacontanol (10, 20 and 30 ppm) and CCC (500, 1000 and 2000 ppm) along with control (water spray). The results revealed that among various treatments, maximum plant height at 60 and 90 days after transplanting (DAT) (32.51 cm and 63.37 cm, respectively) was observed with treatment (GA3 @ 200 ppm). Whereas, maximum number of branches per plant (8.07) and plant spread (36.25 cm and 35.14 cm in N-S and E- W, respectively) were recorded in the treatment (CCC @ 2000 ppm). Significantly earliest bud appearance (58.07 days), first flower opening (83.73 days) and full blooming (100.67 days) was recorded with GA3 @ 200 ppm which was at par with treatment GA3 @ 150 ppm for all the characters (60.13 days, 88.73 days, 102.13 days for bud appearance, first flower opening and full blooming, respectively). Significantly maximum number of flowers per plant (87.60) were recorded with the application of treatment CCC @ 2000 ppm. Significantly maximum weight of flowers per plant (279.49 g), flower yield per plot (2.38 kg) and per hectare (293.27 q) was obtained with application of 200 ppm GA3. Moreover, quality parameters like flower diameter (6.04 cm) and weight of individual flower (3.40 g) were also recorded maximum with the application of GA3 @ 200 ppm. Based on economics, among all the treatments maximum benefit cost ratio (2.70) was found with GA3 @ 200 ppm.