Enhancing blooming period and propagation coefficient of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) using growth regulators

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators on growth, flowering and bulb production of tulip under Karewa conditions of Kashmir Himalaya during 2009 to 2011. The three different growth regulators; gibberellic acid (GA₃) at 100, 200, and 400 ppm, 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CCC) and maleic hydrazide (MH) each at 100, 200 and 500 ppm along with control were applied as dip treatment and foliar spray. Plant height was recorded maximum with 400 ppm GA₃ (37.32 cm) followed by 200 ppm GA₃ (34.13 cm). GA₃ at 400 ppm significantly caused earliest flowering (141.30 days) followed by 200 ppm GA₃ (142.43 days) as compared to the control (148.93 days), while delayed flowering were observed by 500 ppm MH (152.96 days) followed by 200 ppm MH (151.93 days). The longest blooming period was recorded in 200 ppm GA₃ (28.46 days) followed by 400 ppm GA₃ (27.76 days) in comparison to the control (21.59 days). The maximum vase life was obtained with 400 ppm GA₃ (11.26 days) followed by 200 ppm GA₃ (10.43 days) over the control (7.30 days). The maximum number of bulbs and daughter bulbs per plant were recorded with 400 ppm GA₃ (1.43 and 3.03) followed by 500 ppm CCC (1.41 and 2.65) over the control (1.07 and 1.72), respectively and thereby enhanced propagation coefficient was obtained in 400 ppm GA₃ (258.66%) followed by 500 ppm CCC (237.73%) as against the control (170.00%).

Keywords: Tulipa gesneriana, gibberellic acid, 2-chloroethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, maleic hydrazide, blooming period, propagation coefficient

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 168-174