Influence of seedling age, growth regulators and pinching on floral traits of african marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Bahar

The present study entitled "Influence of Seedling Age, Growth Regulators and Pinching on Floral Traits of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Bahar" was conducted at the Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, IGKV, Raipur, during Rabi 2023-24 and 2024-25. The experiment followed a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications and 24 treatment combinations, including two seedling ages (25 and 35 days), four PGR levels (CCC @ 1500 ppm, CCC @ 2000 ppm, BA @ 200 ppm, BA @ 250 ppm) and three pinching treatments (no pinching, single, and double pinching). Data were statistically analysed based on pooled means. Cycocel (CCC @ 2000 ppm) gave the maximum number of secondary branches (38.75) and minimum plant height, while double pinching (P₂) also produced the highest secondary branches (40.43) with reduced plant height. Among the plant growth regulators, G₄ (BA @ 250 ppm) performed best, recording earliest 50% bud initiation (50.00 days), first flowering (51.13 days), minimum days to 50% flowering (68.50 days), maximum flower diameter (6.36 cm), flower longevity (11.44 days) and shelf life (5.80 days). The least performance was observed in G₁ (CCC @ 1500 ppm). Among pinching levels, no pinching (P₀) recorded earliest 50% bud initiation (42.94 days), first flowering (43.83 days), 50% flowering (63.04 days), maximum flower diameter (7.22 cm), flower longevity (13.22 days) and shelf life (6.33 days), whereas double pinching (P₂) produced the minimum peduncle length (7.17 cm). The combination S₂G₂P₂ (35-day-old seedlings × CCC @ 2000 ppm × double pinching) produced the highest branching (46.57). For seedling age × PGR interaction, S₁G₄ (25-day-old × BA @ 250 ppm) produced the tallest plants (87.10 cm), while S₂G₂ (35-day-old × CCC @ 2000 ppm) produced the shortest (74.02 cm). For PGR × pinching, G₄P₀ (BA @ 250 ppm × no pinching) produced the tallest plants (103.14 cm), whereas G₂P₂ (CCC @ 2000 ppm × double pinching) produced the shortest (61.73 cm) but maximum secondary branches. Overall, both younger and older seedlings treated with CCC @ 2000 ppm in combination with double pinching exhibited superior branching performance, BA @ 250 ppm emerged as the most effective plant growth regulator, and the no-pinching (P₀) treatment proved optimal for promoting early flowering and enhancing overall flower quality.