Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
BP Shirsat, KV Malshe and SG Mahadik

Abstract:
The field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Dapoli in Rabi season of the year 2020-21 to assess the response of Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella) to the application of plant growth regulators and pinching practice in relation to flower vase life and economics under Konkan agroclimatic condition. The experiment was designed in Factorial Randomized Block Design consisting of three replication with seven plant growth regulator treatments (Factor A) viz; T₁- Control, T₂- Ethephon @500ppm, T₃- Ethephon @ 1000 ppm, T₄- GA₃ @ 100 ppm, T₅- GA₃ @ 200 ppm, T₆- CCC @ 1000 ppm, T₇- CCC @ 2000 ppm and pinching practices (Factor B) as P₁ - Pinching at 30 days after transplanting and P₂ – No Pinching. The significantly highest vase life (6.50 days) was observed in the treatment T₇ (CCC @ 2000 ppm). The lowest vase life was recorded in the treatment T₂ (Ethephon @ 500ppm) i.e. 3.17days. Whereas, the vase life in control (T₁) was 5.50 days. Pinching treatments and their interaction with plant growth regulators did not significantly altered on vase life of flower. The highest B:C ratio (2.68) was obtained in T₄P₁ treatment followed by T₄P₂ and T₁P₂ treatments (2.57 and 2.57, respectively) The rest of the treatment combinations had low B:C ratio than the Control. While T₂P₂ combination was not cost effective as B:C ratio is (0.82). It is inferred that GA₃ @ 100 ppm with pinching at 30 DAT was cost effective treatment.