Effect of Foliar Application of Growth Retardants on Reproductive Efficiency of Groundnut (ArachishypogaeaL.) Genotypes

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Study on foliar application of Plant growth regulators for improving reproductive efficiency and yield of   Groundnut (ArachishypogaeaL.) genotypes” was carried out during Rabi, 2023-24 at wetland farm of S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati campus of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh. This experiment was laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept and replicated thrice, with four genotypes as factor-1 (G1-Nithyaharitha, G2-Dharani, G3-K-6, G4-Vishista) and four plant growth regulators applied on  as Factor-2 (T1- Control + RDF of NPK, T2-Prohexadione calcium@105g a.i/ha,T3- Putrescine@100 ppm, T4- Paclobutrazol@ 100 ppm applied before and at peak flowering stage of crop). The reproductive efficiency attributes viz., number of flowers, pegs and pods per plant, flower to peg ratio, flower to pod ratio and length of peg were recorded and analysed to understand the influence of plant growth regulators on groundnut. G1 recorded highest number for pegs per plant (54.6), total pods per plant (36.8), mature pods per plant (28.5) and lowest flower to peg ratio (2.8),  lowest length of peg (5.0cm). whereas G2 showed lowest flower to pod ratio (4.3). Treatment of T2 resulted in highest number of pegs per plant (51.8), total pods per plant (36.9), mature pods per plant (29.7), lowest flower to peg ratio (2.6), minimum length of peg (5.2 cm) lowest flower to pod ratio (3.6) and lowest number of flowers per plant (134.9) compared to the other treatments. Nityaharita and Prohexadione calcium@105g a.i/ha resulted in better reproductive efficiency in groundnut.