Effect of plant growth retardants and spacings on vegetative growth and flower yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L) cv Pusa Narangi Gainda

A field study was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Venkataramannagudem to find out the effective growth retardant for vegetative growth and flower yield of African marigold cv Pusa Narangi Gainda. Plants were sprayed with CCC, TIBA, and MH at 750, 1000 and 1250 ppm respectively along with spacings 30 x 20 cm and 40 x 20 cm. Among the growth retardants studied CCC, TIBA and MH suppressed plant height and enhanced the plant spread and number of laterals over control. MH at 1250 ppm enhanced number of flowers and TIBA at 1000 ppm recorded maximum flower diameter. CCC at 750 ppm recorded maximum flower yield per plant and hectare. Among spacings 30 x 20 cm enhanced plant height, inter nodal length and reduced plant spread, number of laterals, number of flowers, flower weight, flower size and yield per plant. Spacing of 40 x 20 cm enhanced the flower size, fresh flower weight, number of flowers and flower yield. CCC at 750 ppm with 30 x 20 cm spacing recorded maximum flower yield of 26.23 tons/hectare.