Efficacy of Plant Growth Regulators on Quality and Yield of Cucumber cv. Malini under Shade Net Conditions

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of different plant growth regulators on quality and yield of cucumber cv. Malini under shade net conditions. The experiment was carried out with 10 treatments GA3 at 75 ppm, 150 ppm and 250 ppm, Ethrel at 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 300 ppm, Salicylic acid at 75 ppm, 150 ppm and 250 ppm and control (water spray) in 3 replications. The quality parameters like         total soluble solids, texture of the fruit, Physiological loss in weight (PLW%) after harvesting and total yield harvested (q/ha) etc. were significantly influenced by plant growth regulators. Among all treatments GA3 at 250 ppm recorded with maximum fruit yield (165.17 t/ ha), Whereas for quality parameters treatment GA3 at 150 ppm found superior for total soluble solids (5.88̊ Brix) and minimum physiological loss in weight after harvesting (1 DAH, 5 DAH and 10 DAH) was recorded in GA3 at 250 ppm. And the fruits with ethrel treatment were found with smooth texture and the remaining were with rough texture.