Impact of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Yield and Quality of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Science, Prayagraj, (U.P.) - 211007 during the year 2022-23. The experiment was consisting of winter dawn variety of Strawberry with each comprising of ten treatments replicated thrice. Source of variables were NAA; GA3 ; BA (benzyl adenine) and combination of them with control treatment taken as eleven treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design by randomizing treatments in each replication. As far as the vegetative growth, flowering, fruit yield and quality of fruit is concerned, application of different treatment of plant growth regulators significantly enhanced the Plant height, Number of leaves per plant, Petiole length, Plant spread, Days taken to first flower, Number of flowers /plant, Fruit length, Fruit width, Number of fruits/plant, Fruit set (%), Yield per plot, Total soluble solids, Total acidity, Ascorbic acid and Fruit weight at all successive stages. Maximum Plant height (24.50cm), Number of leaves per plant (20.66), Petiole length (13.83cm), Plant spread (27.16) (E-W), (26.16) (N-S) ,were recorded in successive year with T6 (GA3 100ppm)Days taken to first flower (40.00 days), Number of flowers /plant (19.33), Fruit length (61.43mm), Fruit width (38.33 mm), Number of fruits/plant (16.66), Fruit set (87.66%), Yield per plot (Kg.) (2.33 Kg) Total soluble solids (TSS) (10.17), Total acidity (%)(1.33%), Ascorbic acid (58.66 mg/ 100 g) and Fruit weight (g) (41.33 g) were recorded in successive year with T9 (BA 75ppm) and minimum vegetative growth, flowering, fruit yield and quality of fruit were observed in T0.