Plant growth regulators and pinching effects on Morpho-physiological traits and yield of safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & Fernandes)

Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), a miracle herb is a high value medicinal plant becoming rare as it is harvested from the wild species. Owing to its extensive use in pharmaceuticals, the demand of Safed musli is increasing by each passing day. Keeping in view the rising demand, it is need of the hour to study morpho-physiological traits and enhance its yield by the use of PGRs and pinching of inflorescence. The morpho-physi-ological parameters were recorded at various growth stages. The plant height, number of leaves and leaf area per plant were found to be maximum with planting of three roots per hill (in comparison to one and two roots per hill) and with foliar application of NAA (100 μg ml⁻¹) whereas the foliar application of Ethrel (250 and 500 μg ml⁻¹) caused reduction in all the growth parameters. Manual pinching of inflorescence had a non-significant effect on all these parameters. Various yield attributing parameters vis-à-vis number of roots, mean root size, fresh root weight and processed yield on per plant basis were enhanced by planting of three roots per hill and with foliar application of NAA (100 μgml⁻¹) followed by manual pinching of inflorescence. However, application of Ethrel showed non-significant effects.