Influence of PGRs on yield characteristics of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. taub)

Introduction

The cluster bean, sometimes called guar, is a member of the papilonaceae subfamily and the leguminosae family. (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) is the botanical name for the cluster bean (2n=14). It is a tropical crop that needs temperatures between 30° and 35° degrees Celsius to germinate properly, and between 32 0 and 38 0 degrees Celsius to promote healthy vegetative growth. The plant needs long days for vegetative growth and short days for flowering because it cannot withstand shade. India has a unique position in the world's cluster bean production due to its climate, which is ideal for growing the crop. The top states in India for cluster bean cultivation are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. India is the world's top producer of cluster beans, accounting for between 75 and 80 percent of global production (Agril. Statistics at a Glance, 2018-2019). It is produced in 1.84 million tonnes on 4.603 million hectares of land in India, with a yield of 551 kg/ha (Ministry of Agriculture, GOI, 2020-2021). The vast endosperm of cluster beans contains 28-33% galactomannan gum. Due to its drought resistance, widespread use, and unique status in the commercial sector, it has become a highly valued cash crop in arid and semi-arid regions. Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) can be used to increase the cluster bean crop's yield and quality. Natural plant growth hormones are classified into six groups. These include brassinosteroids, ethylene, gibberellins, cytokinins, auxins, and abscisic acid. They are crucial to a plant's growth and development. The plant growth regulators GA3, Thiourea, and NAA are the focus of this study. Cell elongation and cell division are significantly influenced by auxin NAA. A genus of fungus that produce "foolish seedling" disease inspired the name of gibberellins. Although roots and young leaves produce over 100 different gibberellins, GA3, or gibberellic acid, is the most often used type. Enhancing stem and internode elongation, promoting seed germination, producing enzymes during germination, and influencing fruit setting and growth are just a few of the numerous effects GA3 has on plant growth.

Materials and Methods

A study on the "Effect of PGRs on yield characteristics of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub)" was carried out. In the summer of 2024-2025, nine distinct PGR treatments at varying percent concentrations were studied for their effects on cluster bean yield characteristics in the village of Khudmudi under CHRS Sankara Patan, Durg (C.G.).

Treatment details

Treatment notations

Treatment combinations T0 Control T1 GA3 @50 ppm T2 GA3 @75 ppm T3 GA3 @100 ppm T4 Thiourea @500 ppm T5 Thiourea @1000 ppm T6 Thiourea @1500 ppm T7 NAA @30 ppm T8 NAA @45ppm T9 NAA @60 ppm

Climatic condition

Durg lies within the tropical climatic zone and receives the majority of its annual rainfall, ranging from about 1100 to 1276 mm, during the southwest monsoon season, primarily from June to October. Summers in the region are hot, with temperatures varying between 30 °C and 47 °C, whereas winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from 5 °C to 25 °C.

Results and Discussion

Yield parameters

The results revealed that the significant differences were observed among treatments for the highest number of pods per plant (33.43) was recorded in treatment T3 (GA3 @100 ppm), similarly, the highest average pod weight (1.74 g) was recorded in treatment T 3 (GA₃ @100 ppm). The highest pod yield per plant (56.43 g) was obtained in treatment T 3 (GA₃ @100 ppm) and the highest total yield (62.70 q/ha) was achieved with treatment T 3 (GA₃ @100 ppm), in contrast to the lowest total yield (38.69 q/ha) obtained in the control treatment (T 0 ). The superior performance of T 3 (GA₃ @100 ppm) may be attributed to the stimulatory role of GA₃ in enhancing vegetative growth and reproductive efficiency, which resulted in the maximum number of pods per plant, higher average pod weight, and increased pod yield per plant. This cumulative effect ultimately translated into the highest total yield per hectare, while the control (T 0 ) recorded the lowest yield. Similar yield-enhancing effects of GA₃ application in legumes have been reported by and Durge et al. (2021) [10] in pigeon pea, and Jayantibhai et al. (2022) [5] in cluster bean.

Economic parameter

The results revealed significant variation in cost of cultivation, gross return, net return, and B:C ratio under different PGR treatments. The maximum gross return (1,25,399.11), net return ( 81,710.11), and B:C ratio (1.87) were obtained with T 3 (GA₃ @100 ppm), while the lowest values were recorded in the control ( T0 ). The superior economic performance of T 3 may be attributed to the growth-promoting effects of GA₃, which enhanced pod yield per plant and overall productivity, thereby improving profitability. Similar positive economic impacts of GA₃ application in leguminous crops have been reported by Sharma et al. (2019) [9] , Patel et al. (2025) [5] .

Conclusion

The findings of the present study indicate that the application of specific concentrations of Plant Growth Regulators can significantly enhance the growth and yield performance of Cluster Bean. The comparison of different treatments revealed that the foliar application of GA₃ @100 ppm was most effective in improving yield traits. This treatment recorded the highest number of pods per plant (32.43), average pod weight (1.74 g), average pod yield per plant (56.43 g) and total yield (62.70 q/ha). It also resulted in the highest economic return, with a maximum net return and a favourable benefit-cost ratio (1.87). These results suggest that the use of foliar application of PGRs can play a vital role in enhancing both productivity and profitability in Cluster Bean cultivation.

References

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