Effect of growth retardants and methods of application on growth and yield of potato

Abstract

Effect of growth retardants and methods of application on growth and yield of potato crop was investigated in cultivar Kufri Pukhraj during 2003-04 and 2004-05. Three growth retardants viz., TIBA @ 100 ppm, Mepiquat Chloride @ 100 ppm and Cycocel @ 750 ppm along with a control were used with four application methods viz., tuber dipping, foliar spray at 30 days after planting, foliar spray at 45 days after planting, foliar spray at 30 and 45 days after planting and a control treatment. Although, all the growth retardants tried, improved establishment and growth measured interms of plant height, number of stems, leaf area and total dry weight. Mepiquat Chloride @ 100 ppm foliar sprayed at 30 and 45 days after planting proved to be most effective followed by CCC @ 750 ppm. The tuber yield under this treatment was significantly superior over control (water dip). This suggested that Mapiquat Chloride @ 100 ppm foliar sprayed at 30 and 45 days after planting helped best in obtaining the higher growth, yield and quality parameters.