Effect of Bio-Fertilizers and plant growth regulators on growth, flowering, fruit ion content, yield and fruit quality of strawberry

A study was undertaken to monitor the interactive effects of bio-fertilizers and plant growth regulators on performance of strawberry grown in open field condition at the Research Farm of Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri Collage, kharora, Punjab during year 2016–17. Three different bio-fertilizers viz. Azotobacter (10 kg/ha), PSB (6 kg/ha) and VAM (12 kg/ha) and three plant growth regulators viz. GA₃ (100 ppm), Triacontanol (5 ppm) and NAA (50 ppm) were tested individually and in combinations in a randomized block design. The treatment PSB (6 kg/ha) + GA₃ (100 ppm) registered an improved plant growth with least time to produce first flower (57 days) compared to control treatment. The highest fruit length (40.7 mm), fruit width (27.2 mm), fruit weight (14.2 g) and number of fruits per plant (13) were observed in the plants treated with PSB (6 kg/ha)+ Triacontanol (5 ppm). The nitrate, ammonium, magnesium, calcium and sulphate content of strawberry fruit were found maximum in the plants treated with Azotobacter (10 kg/ha) + GA₃ (100 ppm). While, the maximum phosphate and potassium contents were obtained from PSB (6 kg/ha) + Triacontanol (5 ppm) treated plants. The plants treated with PSB (6 kg/ha) + Triacontanol (5 ppm) confirmed the highest fruit yield (13.48 t/ha), TSS (11.4 ºB), ascorbic acid (63.67 mg/100g), total sugar (7.7%), reducing sugar (4.9%) and anthocyanin content (1.9). Thus, it can be concluded that an appropriate combination of bio-fertilizers and plant growth regulators may significantly improve the overall plant growth, fruit yield and quality.