Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus)

A field experiment was conducted during May–August 2025 at Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture, Erode for evaluating the effect of plant growth regulators on the growth and yield of bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). The study comprised thirteen treatments, including different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), their combinations, and a control, laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Foliar sprays were applied at 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS. Significant variation was observed among treatments for all vegetative and yield attributes. T₄ (GA3 @ 200 ppm) recorded the maximum plant height, leaf length, fruit weight per plant, and overall yield, emerging as the best performer. T₆ (NAA @ 100 ppm) ranked second, excelling in fruit number and fruit length. In contrast, T₈ (NAA @ 200 ppm) consistently produced the lowest values for most parameters. The results indicates, that GA3 at 200 ppm and NAA at 100 ppm can substantially enhance both vegetative growth and reproductive performance, whereas excessive NAA concentration may negatively affect yield potential in bhendi under field conditions.