Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Flowering, Yield and Quality of Watermelon (Citrullus la not us Thunb.) CV Shine Beauty

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during summer 2010. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replication. The experiment included nine treatments; namely two concentrations each of GA, (10 and 15 ppm). Ethrel (250 and 500 ppm), MH (100 and 200 ppm), CCC (250 and 500 ppm) and control (water spray). Two sprays of plant growth regulators were done at 2nd and 4'" true leaf stages. The results of experiment revealed that growth characters such as length of main axis (234.00cm), number of branches (16.67/plant) andnumberof nodes (60.70/plant) were highest with GA, 15 ppm. As regard to flowering, lowest days to first male (44.33 days), female (47.00 days) and hermaphrodite (51.57 days) flower appearance were noted in MH 200ppm. The highest female: male sex ratio 1:2.03 was registered in MH 200 ppm treatment. The yield characterssuch as number of fruits per plant (3.07) and fruit yield (10.24 kg/plant and 34901.75 kg/ha) were highest in MH 200 ppm. In case of average weight of fruit was highest (3434.67 g/fruit) in GA315 ppm. The quality characters such as total sugar (3.81%), reducing sugar (1.30%) and pulp weight (2405.00 g/fruit) were noted highest in MH 200 ppm.