Trends in Biosciences

To study the effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on physiology and quality in tuberose cv. Prajwal, a field experiment was conducted in Factorial Randomized Block Design. The treatment consisted of bulb dipping in growth regulators namely, GA₃ @ 200 ppm for 12 h, CCC @ 5000 ppm for 1 h were given at the time of planting and foliar spray of micronutrients namely, H₃BO₃ 0.1%, ZnSO₄ 0.5% and FeSO₄ 0.2% were applied either alone or in combinations on 60, 120, 180 and 240 days after sprouting. Physiological parameters at 120 and 240 DAP and vase life of cut tuberose stems after harvest was recorded. The results revealed that chlorophyll and soluble protein contents were significantly enhanced by the treatment combination G₂M₈i.e., dipping of bulbs in GA₃ @ 200 ppm for 12 h and foliar spray of H₃BO₃ @ 0.1% + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% + FeSO₄ @ 0.2% at bimonthly intervals registered highest chlorophyll content of 1.02 mg g⁻¹at 120 DAP. Also, G₂M₈ registered significantly the highest soluble protein content of 83.17 mgg⁻¹ at 120 DAP. At 240 DAP, significant increase in soluble protein content was observed in the combination of gibberellic acid 200 ppm for 12 h, zinc (0.5%) and iron (0.2%) alone. Mean comparison showed that aluminium sulfate with concentration of 300 ppm and 4% sucrose had the maximum vase life of 11.09 days than the cut spikes of preharvest treated plots when kept under tap water (9.22 days).