Effect of NAA, GA3 on growth and yield of tomato varieties

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Response of tomato varieties to different plant growth regulators under Malwa condition” was conducted near Hi-Tech. Horticultural Area, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Indore during rabi season of 2008-09. The treatments comprising 4 varieties [V1-J.T.-99, V2-Pusa Ruby, V3-Sel.-7, V4-DVRI-1] and 3 combinations of plant growth regulators at different concentrations [H1- 15 ppm GA3 followed by 25 ppm NAA, H2- 30 ppm GA3 followed by 50 ppm NAA, H3- 45 ppm GA3 followed by 75 ppm NAA] laid out in randomized block design, replicated 3 times. The soil was low in available nitrogen and phosphorus and high in available potassium. A uniform dose 120 kg N/ha through urea, 60 kg P2O5/ha through SSP and 80 kg K2O/ha through MOP were applied in all the experimental plots. Variety ‘Sel.-7’ gave higher values of most of the growth characters, plant height, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant and shoot girth and yield attributing characters like fruit length and diameter, weight per fruit, number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant and resulted in significantly highest fruit yield followed by ‘Pusa Ruby’. Foliar application of 15 ppm GA3 followed by 25 ppm NAA produced superior growth and yield attributing characters and ultimately fruit yield of tomato. Higher concentrations of GA3 and NAA beyond 15 and 25 ppm were not found advantageous for tomato crop. Combination of variety ‘Sel.-7’ and 15 ppm GA3 25 ppm NAA was found best in respect increasing productivity of tomato crop. Variety ‘Sel.-7’ sprayed with 15 ppm GA3 followed by 25 ppm NAA gave highest gross and net return along with B:C ratio (Rs. 132821/ha, Rs. 99581/ha and 4.00) followed by ‘Pusa Ruby’ sprayed with same concentration of plant growth regulators (Rs. 122363/ha, Rs. 89123/ha and 3.68).