Influence of Growth Regulators on Growth Physiology, Yield and Components in Onion (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes
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Date
2012
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UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2011 at Main Agricultural Research
Station (MARS) University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad to study the effect of plant
growth regulators on growth physiology, yield and yield components in onion (Allium cepa
L.) genotypes. The experiment consists of nine treatments viz., The foliar spray of
chlormequat chloride at four levels (500, 750, 1000 and 1250 ppm), two levels of mepiquat
chloride (750 and 1500 ppm), two levels of triacontanol (1000 and 2000 ppm) and control.
The onion genotypes used in the study are Nasik red and Arka kalyan. The experiment was
laid out in split plot design with three replications. The foliar spray of these chemicals were
taken at 40 DAS and 60 DAS. The results of the experiment reveled that, the plant height was
increased with the application of triacontanol (1000 and 2000 ppm) as compared to control.
While, it was significantly decreased with the application of mepiquat chloride followed by
chlormequat chloride in both the genotypes. Among the treatments, chlormequat chloride @
1000 ppm has increased significantly number of leaves at all the stages except at harvest
stage. The growth parameters viz., LAI, LAD, AGR, RGR, NAR, CGR, BMD had
significantly higher values with the application of 1000 and 1250 ppm chlromequat chloride.
It was noticed that, the total dry matter content (TDM) has been significantly increased in the
treatment of chlormequat chloride (1000 and 1250 ppm) as compared to other treatments. The
same treatment also significantly enhanced the biochemical parameters viz., Chlorophyll ‘a’,
Chorophyll ‘b’, total chlorophyll and nitrate reductase.
Similarly bulb yield was significantly higher with the application of chlormequat
chloride (1000 ppm) as compared to other treatments and the lowest yield was obtained in
control. The increase in bulb yield was due to increase in bulb length and bulb diameter.
Among the genotypes Arka kalyan was found more superior than Nasik red with the respect
to all the characters. From the study, it is inferred that the application of chlormequat chloride
@ 1000 ppm is found to be more economic.