Effect of pinching, urea and GA₃ on growth, flowering and seed attributes in African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of pinching (single and double) and application of GA₃ (100 ppm) and urea (2%) alone or in combination on plant growth, flowering and seed attributes of African marigold cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda. Foliar application of urea and GA₃ was done to run-off stage. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Results revealed that the maximum number of primary branches per plant, flower yield per plant and stem diameter were obtained with double pinching + urea 2% treatment, whereas minimum flower yield per plant was recorded with no pinching treatment. Maximum number of secondary branches per plant was recorded with double pinching + GA₃ 100 ppm treatment. The maximum diameter of flower was recorded with single pinching + GA₃ 100 ppm while, maximum number of flowers per plant was recorded with double pinching treatment and minimum with no pinching treatment. Treatment double pinching + urea 2% was registered maximum number of seeds/flower, weight of seeds/flower and also seed yield. Treatment double pinching + GA₃ 100 ppm resulted in maximum 100 seed weight.