2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 10

author(s)
BP Shirsat and KV Malshe

abstract
The field trial was carried out at College of Horticulture, Dapoli during the Rabi season of 2020-21 to assess the assess the effect of plant growth regulator and pinching on bud and flower size in gaillardia. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design comprising seven treatments of plant growth regulators (Factor A) coupled with pinching practices (Factor B) and replicated three times. The PGR treatments were T₁-Control, T₂-Ethephon @ 500 ppm, T₃-Ethephon @ 1000 ppm, T₄-GA3 @ 100 ppm, T₅-GA3 @ 200 ppm, T₆-CCC @ 1000 ppm and T₇- CCC @ 2000 ppm with pinching each consisting of two levels as P₁ - Pinching at 30 days after transplanting and P₂ - No pinching. Maximum flower bud length (9.09 mm) was observed in T₁ (Control). It was followed by T₇ (CCC @ 2000 ppm) 7.48 mm. The lowest flower bud length (6.23 mm) was observed in T₂ (Ethephon @ 500 ppm). Largest flower bud (7.44 mm) was observed in P₁ (Pinching at 30 DAT) and minimum flower bud length (7.17 mm) was recorded in no- pinching treatment (P₁). The interaction effect between plant growth regulator and pinching on average bud length of flower was non-significant. The maximum bud width (16.23 mm) was recorded in treatment T₄ (GA₃ @ 100 ppm) and was followed by T₅ (GA₃ @ 200 ppm) 14.76 mm which was at par with Control. The flower bud width was observed minimum (11.78 mm) in the treatment T₃ (Ethephon @ 1000 ppm). Maximum flower bud width (14.32 mm) was observed in P₁ (Pinching at 30 DAT) and minimum flower bud width (13.53) mm was recorded in P₂ (no- pinching treatment). The highest bud width (16.72 mm) was observed in T₄P₁ (GA₃ @ 100 ppm + pinching at 30 DAT). The lowest bud width (11.43 mm) was observed in T₃P₂ (Ethephon @ 1000 ppm + No-pinching). Significantly maximum flower stalk length (30.53 cm) was observed in the treatment T₅ (GA₃ @ 200 ppm). The shortest flower stalk length (16.17cm) was recorded in the treatment T₃ (Ethephon @ 1000 ppm). Pinching treatment does not significantly influence on flower stalk length. The interaction effect between plant growth regulator and pinching on flower stalk length was also found non-significant. The largest flower diameter (8.23 cm) was recorded in the treatment T₇ (CCC @ 2000 ppm) and the least flower diameter (4.26cm) was in GA₃ @ 100 ppm treatment (T₄). Maximum flower diameter (6.44 cm) was recorded in P₁ (pinching at 30 DAT). The shortest flower diameter (6.13 cm) was measured in P₂ (no-pinching) treatment. In interaction, maximum flower diameter (8.43 cm) recorded in T₇P₁ (CCC @ 2000 ppm +pinching at 30 DAT). The minimum flower diameter (4.15 cm) was observed in T₄P₂ (GA₃ @ 100 ppm + no-pinching).