1Editorial Office-SJR; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar-190 025, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
2Division of Vegetable Science; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar-190 025, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
3Division of Fruit Science; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar-190 025, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities;
*e-mail: drkhan_387@skuastkashmir.ac.in
Online published on 29 December, 2018.
Investigation was carried out at the Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities during 2017 to investigate the effect of foliar application of melatonin on plant growth and photosynthetic pigments in broccoli. Thirty days old and uniform seedlings of broccoli cv. Palam Samridhi were transplanted in the field at a spacing of 45 × 45cm. Different concentrations of melatonin, viz 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80ppm were sprayed on the plant foliage at 15 days after transplanting (DAT) replicating each treatment four times. Growth and growth analysis parameters in terms of plant height, plant dry weight, NAR, AGR, RGR, CGR and LAI were recorded at specified time intervals. Treatments were also evaluated for photosynthetic pigments viz. leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Results indicated that foliar application of different concentrations of melatonin significantly improved the growth and photosynthetic attributes wherein Mel 60ppm resulted in highest plant height (36.5 and 49.5cm), plant dry weight (24.7 and 42.5g/plant) and leaf carotenoid (0.025 and 0.028mg/g) at 30 and 60DAT. However, leaf chlorophyll content was maximum (0.69 and 1.43mg/g) with Mel 80ppm at respective days. Mel 60ppm again recorded better LAI (2.6), NAR (0.10g/cm2/day), AGR (0.47g/day) and CGR (3.84g/m2/day) compared to other levels.
Broccoli, carotenoid, chlorophyll, melatonin, NAR and RGR
