Propagation and pinching studies in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

The primary objective of this investigation was to devise a successful propagation method and to identify a pinching height that would optimize plant growth, canopy architecture and yield of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.). The plants raised through cuttings showed better performance in respect of growth characters viz., plant height (92.95 cm), number of primary shoots (8.22) besides higher photosynthetic efficiency (1.45 mg/cm²/day) and leaf chlorophyll content (26.47 mg/g FW) fruit yield (319.17 g/plant) than seedlings. Earlier flowering (71.13 days after transplanting) and picking (50.49 days after fruit set) were also observed in plant multiplied through cuttings. Of the five pinching treatments (20, 30, 40 and 50cm height) the pinching at 20cm was most effective to reduce the plant height (72.18cm as compared to 106.19cm in control) and took lowest no. of days for flowering (75.52 days after transplanting) and picking (51.57 days after fruit set), while pinching at 40 cm height showed the highest values for the number of primary shoots (9.45), photosynthetic efficiency (1.54 mg/cm²/day) and leaf chlorophyll content (33.41 mg/g FW). Out of all pinching treatments, the fruits picked from the plants pinched at 40 cm plant height were highest in number (42.80) as well as yield (393.48 g) per plant basis.