J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2014: Vol.

28 (2): 341-344 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH OF GLADIOLUS CV.

AMERICAN BEAUTY
Jadhav, P.B1., Kireeti, A. 2, Patil, N.B3, Dekhane, S.S. 4 and Patel, D.J. 5
ASPEE, Agricultural Research and Development Foundation, 1, 2, 3 and 4
ASPEE HOUSE, P.O.Box No. 7602, B. J. Patel Road,
Malad (W), Mumbai-400 064 (India).
Ex. Principal and Dean, BA Collage of Agriculture, AAU., Anand (GJ) 5
Corresponding Author e-mail: tropicalsubtropical@gmail.com

Received: 20-10-2014 Accepted: 27-11-2014

The field experiment effect of plant growth regulators on growth of gladiolus cv. American Beauty, was conducted during
Kharif season 2014-2015 at ASPEE, Agricultural Research and Development Foundation, Village Nare, Taluka Wada, District
Palghar, Maharashtra with combination of different sources of plant growth regulators to study their effect on vegetative growth
and spike yield of gladiolus. Experiment consisted of 9 treatments each replicated thrice and laid out in RBD. The obtained results
showed that the growth regulators significantly affected the growth and yield parameters of gladiolus cv. American Beauty such
as maximum no. of spikes per plant (3.80), spike length (74.37 cm), vase life (14.40 days), no. of spikes / plot (95), no. of spikes /
ha (215419.50) was observed with GA3 @ 50 ppm, whereas the minimum no. of spikes per plant (1.80), petiole length (58.16), vase
Life (7), no. of spikes / plot (45), no. of spikes / ha (102040.82 ) was observed in control. Maximum B:C ratio (2.57:1) was registered
in treatment (T2) GA3 @ 50 ppm. Thus it can concluded that GA3 @ 50 ppm is beneficial for enhanced growth and yield parameters
over control in gladiolus cv. American Beauty.

Gladiolus, being a potential cut flower has great demand and
is cultivated all over the world for its attractive spikes having
florets of huge forms, dazzling colors, varying sizes and long
vase life 1. It is known as queen of bulbous flowers. It belongs
to the family Irridaceae and is a native of Mediterranean region.
It is excellent for cut flower as it lasts long in flower vase and
has magnificent inflorescence with variety of colour. The growth
and development of plant is governed by internal factors namely
hormonal and nutritional balance. The balanced development
of plant is governed by the growth regulators, which are being
increasingly used to manipulate the growth and flowering of
ornamental plants. Therefore, the present study was under
taken to find out the concentration of the growth regulators
like Gibberellic acid, Salicylic acid, Enrich banana pseudo-
stem sap and Banana pseudo-stem sap for the better growth
and flowering. The aim of this study is to examine the effects
of different levels of plant growth regulators on growth and spike
yield of gladiolus cv. American Beauty.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This experiment was conducted at ASPEE Agricultural
Research and Development Foundation, Village Nare, Tal.
Wada, District Palghar, Maharashtra, India. This trail was
conducted during the period of Kharif 2014. Soil of the
experimental plot was uniform in texture and well drained. FYM
was applied @ 25 t ha-1 at the time of land preparation. The
experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD)
with three replications. Treatments comprised of four growth
regulators, each having two levels viz., GA3 @ 25, 50 ppm,
SA @ 25, 50 ppm, Enriched Banana Pseudostem Sap @ 0.5,
1 % and Banana Pseudostem Sap @ 2, 4 % along with a
control (only tap water). The cold stored gladiolus cv. American
Beauty corms of above 5.5 cm diameter were collected from
ASPEE, Agricultural Research and Development Foundation
Farm, Village- Nare, Taluka- Wada, District-Palghar,
Maharashtra during the period of January, 2014-15. The shade
dried corms were planted at a spacing 45 x 40 cm in raised
beds of 2.1 x 2.1m size. The gladiolus plants were sprayed
with aqueous solution of the growth regulators as per treatments
schedule at 30th and 45th and 60th day after planting corms.
The intercultural operations were followed as and when required.
The growth and yield parameters of both cultivars for each
treatment were observed in three plants selected by random
sampling method. The data were statistically analyzed and
critical differences were worked out at five per cent level to
draw statistical conclusions 2. Composition of Banana
Pseudostem Sap is 4.2, 35.1 and 1223 ppm N, P and K
respectively, where as Enriched Banana Pseudostem Sap is
 Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth (342)

Fig.1. Effect of growth regulators on no. of sprouts and no. of spikes per plant of
gladiolus cv. American beauty

Fig.2. Effect of growth regulators on yield parameters of gladiolus cv. American Beauty.
(343) Jadhav, Kireeti, Patil, Dekhane and Patel

Table-1. Effect of plant growth regulators on growth and yield parameters of gladiolus cv. American Beauty

Table-2. Effect of growth regulators on economics and B:C ratio of gladiolus cv. American Beauty
 Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth
119, 50.4 and 1289 ppm N, P and K, respectively. So it is
evaluated as liquid fertilizer, apart from essential plant nutrients
it also contains growth promoting substances viz., GA and
cytokinin. Enrichment of sap is being standardized at NAU
Navsari 3.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Result presented in Table-1, Fig. 1, 2, revealed that the growth
and flowering parameters of gladiolus plants cv American
Beauty were significantly altered due to the application of
growth regulators. The no. of sprouts per plant (corm), no. of
spikes per plant, spike length, vase life, no. of spikes / plot,
no. of spikes / m2, no. of spikes / ha, were significantly
increased due to GA3, Salicylic acid, Enrich Banana Pseudo-
stem Sap (EBPS) and Banana Pseudo-stem Sap (BPS)
application. The maximum no. of sprouts per plant (3.40), no.
of spikes per plant (3.80), spike length (74.37 cm), vase life
(14.40 days), no. of spikes / plot (95), no. of spikes / m2
(21.54), no. of spikes / ha (215419.50) was observed with GA3
@ 50 ppm, whereas the minimum no. of sprouts per plant
(corm) (2), no. of Spikes per plant (1.80), petiole length (58.16),
vase life (7), no. of spikes / plot (45), no. of spikes / m (10.20),
no. of spikes / ha (102040.82 ) was observed in control increase
in these growth parameter might be due to the fact that GA3,
SA, EBPS and BPS promote vegetative growth by inducing
active cell division in the apical meristem. These findings on
spike length and number of spikes per plant are in consonance
with the reports of 4-8 in gladiolus. The data showed that
application of GA3 @ 50 ppm registered maximum gross
income (6,46,258.50 Rs per hectare), total cost (1,81,222.2
Rs per hectare) net income (4,65,036.28 Rs per hectare) and
benefit: cost ratio (2.57:1). Minimum gross return (3,06,122
Rs per hectare) total cost (1,56,000 Rs per hectare), net
return (1,50,122 Rs per hectare) and benefit: cost ratio (0.96:1)
was registered in control. Application of GA3 pretreatment also
increased the durability of flowers. Maximum durability was
observed at the highest concentration of GA3. Gibberellic acid
application results in continuous supply of photosynthetic
assimilate for longer duration due to high source strength at
higher concentration.9-10 also recorded the best flower quality
in gerbera when sprayed with 150 ppm GA3. The possible
reason for increasing spike length and rachis length might be
due to increase in the cell division and cell elongation of
intercalary meristem resulting in rapid internode elongation 11.
(344)
The reports indicate that the growth and yield of gladiolus was
enhanced by application of GA3 12-13.
The present studies was conducted to ascertain the effect of
growth regulators on growth, flowering and quality flower
production of gladiolus. From our experimental findings, it was
concluded that GA3 at 50 ppm proved to be best concentration
in enhancing all the vegetative (sprouting of bulbs), floral (spike
length) and yield (no. of spikes per plant, vase life, no. of
spikes / plot, no. of spikes / m, no. of spikes / ha). Better
performance of gladiolus with application of GA3 might be due
to efficient nutrient uptake, enhancing source and sink potential
by promoting photosynthetic enzymes, leaf area, more
trapping of light for increasing photosynthetic rate.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to Directors of ASPEE, Agricultural
Research and Development Foundation, Mumbai for providing
facilities for conducting the research work.
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