Effect of GA3 and ethrel on growth and flowering of African marigold cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda

An experiment was conducted at department of horticulture CSAUA&T, Kanpur with nine treatments viz., four concentration each of GA3 (25, 50,100 and 200 ppm) and Ethrel (100,200,300 and 400 ppm) and with control (distilled water) in R.B.D. with three replication on African marigold cv.- Pusa Narangi Gainda to study their effect on regulation of growth and flowering during winter season (2006–2007). The result of experiment revealed that GA3 at 50,100 and 200 ppm significantly increased the plant height, number of main branches, basal diameter of plant, number of flower per plant, weight and size of flower and flower yield per plant over control. GA3 at all concentration caused early flowering and long duration of flowering, while ethrel at all concentration reduced plant height,increased number of main branches, basal diameter of stem and caused late flowering than control. Ethrel at 100 and 200 ppm increased the number of flower per plant, diameter of flower, fresh weight of flower and flower yield per plant than control. Among all treatments GA3 at 200 ppm significantly superior and registered maximum flower yield per plant (639.18 gm) with longest duration of flowering (87.18 days) as compared to control (406.13 gm and 80.26 days) respectively.