Effect of different concentration of paclobutrazol (PP₃₃₃) on growth, flowering and quality of bottle gourd

The efficacy of different levels of soil applied paclobutrazol (PP₃₃₃) for increasing yield bottle gourd was studied. All the concentration paclobutrazol significantly decreased vine length, leaf size and fruit length, whereas, side branches, fruit/plant, fruit diameter, TSS and dry matter content were increased. Besides these, paclobutrazol also caused early appearance of female flowers on the nearest node (from bottom). From yield and quality point of view, paclobutrazol at 175 mgl⁻¹ was found superior among all the treatments.