Author(s): VG Navya, KS Nirmala, A Ranjitha and HD Varsha

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out during 2021-2023 at the Department of Horticulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru to study the Effect of pruning and application of growth regulators on growth and flower characteristics of jasmine (Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton) during off-season flower production under polyhouse condition. There were 21 treatments with three replications comprising of pruning schedule and growth regulators was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomized Design (FCRD). Three pruning treatments were imposed during the second fortnight of August (P₁), October (P₂) and December (P₃ control). Foliar application of growth regulators viz., GA₃ at 100 (G₁), 150 (G₂), and 200 ppm (G₃); Cycocel at 500 (G₄), 750 (G₅), and 1000 ppm (G₆) and double distilled water (Control, G7) were sprayed at 15 days after pruning under polyhouse condition. Among different vegetative characteristics, P₃G₃ (December pruning + GA₃ at 200 ppm) had recorded maximum plant height and plant spread in E-W and N-S directions at 60 days after pruning, respectively. Number of primary branches per plant showed no significant difference among the treatments. Higher number of secondary branches per plant was recorded in P3G6 (December pruning + Cycocel at 1000 ppm). Flower characteristics viz., days taken for bud initiation (31.33 days), first flowering (43.33 days) and 50 per cent flowering (71.44 days) were minimum in December pruning along with foliar application of Cycocel at 1000 ppm (P₃ G₆) and significantly different from others. Off season duration of flowering (87 days) and on season duration of flowering (197 days) were maximum in plants pruned during October month with application of Cycocel at 1000 ppm (P₂ G₆) with significantly increased in off season flower yield (December to February) per plant (0.366 kg) and on season flower yield per plant (2.345 kg).

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i7f.1556