Role of Plant Growth Regulators in Strawberry

The present experiment was laid out in the experimental orchard of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan (HP). The experiment consisted of 19 treatments with three replications laid out in Randomized Block Design. The growth regulators applied were Pro.Ca (30, 60 and 90 ppm), CPPU (2, 4 and 6 ppm), GA3 (25, 50 and 75 ppm), Ethephon (50, 100 and 150 ppm), NAA (20 30 and 60 ppm), CPPU + GA3 (2+50, 4+50 and 6+50 ppm) and T19 control. The results revealed that growth regulators significantly improved plant growth, runners production, flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit quality. The plants treated with GA3 75 ppm recorded highest plant height, petiole length, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, plant spread, number of runners per plant, days taken for initiation of flowering, total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars and acidity. The highest chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, duration of flowering, number of flowers per plant, fruit set, fruits per plant, fruit yield (gram per plant), fruit length, fruit breadth and fruit weight were observed with the application of CPPU 6 + GA3 50 ppm.