Response of Gaillardia to Plant Growth Regulators and Pinching

The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of growth retardants and pinching on growth and yield of gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella var. Lorenziana) cv. Local Double at Fruit Research Station, Sakkarbaugh Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, during summer season of year 2011. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 15 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of three different types of growth retardants each having two concentrations viz., CCC (500 ppm and 1000 ppm), MH (200 ppm and 400 ppm), Paclobutrazol (25 ppm and 50 ppm) and control (water spray). The plant growth retardants were spray sprayed at 45 and 60 days after transplanting. In another treatment two pinching each at 45 and 60 DAT were done. The results revealed that the foliar spray of MH @ 400 ppm at 45 DAT significantly retarded plant the height at 60, 90 and 120 DAT. The plants treated with CCC @ 1000 ppm at 45 DAT recorded the highest numbers of branches per plant (56.53) at 120 DAT and shelf life (3.83 days). The maximum number of flowers per plant (123.67), weight of flower/plant (350 g) and significantly the highest yield (4.20 Kg/net plot and 172.98 q/ha, respectively) was also recorded with CCC @ 1000 ppm as compared to pinching and control. It can be concluded that Because of application of CCC @ 1000 ppm plants could produce the highest yield per hectare, net realization and C.B.R. value which found to be most profitable in gaillardia.