Regulation of Flowering by Pinching and Foliar Application of Gibberellic Acid in African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

An experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh, Akola (Maharashtra) during summer season of the year 2010–11 and 2011–12 in factorial randomized block design with objective to staggering production and making available African marigold flower throughout the year. The treatment comprised with factor A viz pinching (No pinching, pinching at 15, 22, and 30 DAT) and factor B foliar application of gibberellic acid (100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm and control). The results revealed that, no pinching treatments recorded significantly early first flower bud initiation (27.99 days) and first harvesting (43.25 days) with maximum longevity of flower on plant (17.51 days), shelf life of flower (6.71 days), fresh weight of flower (7.40 g), diameter of flower (7.92 cm), length of pedicel flower (8.78 cm). Whereas, number of flower plant-1 (32.60), flower yield plant-1 (240.81 g) and ha-1 (17.16 t) was recorded significantly maximum in treatment pinching at 15 DAT. In respect of foliar application of gibberellic acid, minimum days to first flower bud initiation (32.34 days) and days to first harvesting (52.62 days) with maximum flowering duration (58.37 days), fresh weight of flower (7.32 g), number of flower plant-1 (32.49), flower yield plant-1 (237.55 g) and ha-1 (17.79 t), diameter of flower (8.17 cm), length of pedicel flower (8.85 cm), longevity of flower on plant (18.16 days) and shelf life of flower (6.70 days) were recorded maximum with treatment GA3 300 ppm.