Effect of Growth Regulators on Growth and Yield of Bitter Gourd

In present investigation, to study the effect of growth regulators viz. GA (10, 20 and 30 ppm), NAA (50, 100 and 150ppm), Ethre1 (50, 100 and 150 ppm), MH (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and control (water spray) on flowering and yield of bitter gourd was sprayed twice at 2^nd and 4^th true leaf stages after transplanting. The result revealed that GA promoted flowering and MH delayed flowering. Minimum days taken to first female flower (53.93 days) and maximum days taken to first male flower (53.09 days) appearance were noted in Etherel 150 ppm. The numbers of female flowers per vine (35.80) was recorded significantly maximum, whereas, number of male flowers per vine (228.20) and male: female sex ratio (1: 6.43) were observed minimum in MH 300ppm. Fruit yield also increased significantly over control in all the growth regulator treatments and maximum no. of fruit per vine (2.51kg), fruit yield per plot (32.47kg) and fruit yield per hectare (18.04t) were also recorded in MH 300 ppm.