EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS: ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY STRAWBERRY (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) CV. WINTER DAWN

The present investigation entitled "Effect of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn" was carried out at Rambhas Farm, HMRS, NAU, Waghai, Gujarat, India during 2017-18. The experiment consisted of foliar application NAA (50, 75, 100 and 125 mg l -1) and GA3 (50, 75, 100 and 125 mg l -1) along with control and laid out in RBD with three replications. The spraying was done at 30 and 60 DAP. Results indicated that among the treatments, foliar spraying of GA3 @ 100 mg l-1found significant with respect to maximum plant spread, number of leaves, number of crown, leaf area, length of petiole, number of runners, flowers, fruits; fruit weight, marketable fruit percentage, marketable and total fruit yield and higher income with maximum BCR .Whereas, the fruit quality parameters like TSS, ascorbic acid, reducing, non-reducing and total sugar content were recorded maximum with NAA @ 125 mg l -1, Therefore, on the basis of the results obtained in the study and from economical point of view, the strawberry cv. Winter Dawn should be sprayed twice at 30 and 60 DAP with GA3 @ 100 mg l-1 to gain higher yield and maximum profit.