Effect of exogenous application of plant growth regulators on quality and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L) under NVPH

The investigations were carried out at Regional Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during Rabi 2015 under NVPH. The experiment comprised ten treatments involving three levels of each plant growth regulator (PGR) namely NAA 20, 40 and 60 ppm; GA₃ 25, 50 and 75 ppm and 2, 4-D 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ppm and was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. Bell pepper responded variably for quality parameters upon exogenous application of different PGRs. The fruits harvested from plants sprayed with 20 ppm NAA exhibited significantly maximum fruit volume (281.21 cm³) except control and 40 ppm NAA. However maximum pericarp thickness of 6.5 mm was observed in 7.5 ppm dose of 2, 4-D whereas minimum physiological loss in weight of 9.43 and 23.41 per cent at 6^th and 9^th day after picking was significantlyfavoured by 7.5 ppm2, 4-D and 20 ppm NAA respectively. Ascorbic acid content remained unaffected by any of the treatments. The superiority of NAA at the rate of 20 ppm was also reflected by bell pepper plants in terms of maximum fruit breadth (7.95 cm), average fruit weight (185.00 g), fruit yield per plant (3.00 kg), marketable yield per m² (10.75 kg) and total yield per m² (11.44 kg) except fruit length which was observed to be maximum in plants treated with 75 ppm GA₃.