Effect of foliar spray of nutrients and growth regulators on inflorescence emergence and spathe unfurling in Anthurium andreanum vat. Temptation

Investigations were carried out at the Botanic Gardens, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to study the effect of nutrients and growth regulators on days for inflorescence emergence and spathe unfurling of A. andreanum van Temptation under 75 per cent shade net house conditions. The experiment was conducted with 3 levels of nutrients each at 2 concentrations along with two different growth regulators BA and GA₃ each at 250 and 500 ppm. The treatments were replicated twice in a factorial completely randomized design. Foliar spray of both nutrient solutions and growth regulators drastically reduced the number of days taken for inflorescence emergence to spathe unfurling. The nutrient level NPK@ 20 : 20 : 40 @ 0.25 percent with growth regulator GA₃ at 250 ppm took the lowest period of 186.50 days to reach flowering as well as inflorescence emergence to spathe unfurling. The days taken for inflorescence emergence' was 30 days as against the control (40 days). This treatment (NPK @ 20:20 : 40 @ 0.25% + GA₃ 250 ppm) was superior to all other treatment combinations.