Influence of Different Plant Growth Regulators and Boron on Growth, Yield and Sex Expression of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Mol.) under Garhwal Valley

The present investigation was carried out at Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, H. N. B. Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, India during summer season, 2018-19. The existing experiment was laid out in randomized block design following 13 treatments replicated thrice. The various growth parameters as well as yield attributes and yield were recorded during the experimentation. The result of the present investigation showed that GA3 @ 50 mg/kg was registered as the best treatment in terms of vine length (376.13 cm), fruits per vine (6.60), sex ratio (F:M) 1:11.07 and yield per vine (1357.33 g) and NAA @ 200 mg/kg+ Boron @ 0.1% with relation to the number of main branches per vine (10.87), length of fruit (24.57 cm), diameter of fruit (90.10 mm), yield per plot (10.29 kg/plot) and yield per hectare (457.33 q) in bottle gourd. However, GA3 @ 50 mg/kg+ Boron @ 0.1% number of node per vine (24.27), number of node bearing first flower GA3 50 @ mg/kg(4.20) and NAA @ 150 mg/kg(4.20), weight of fruit NAA @ 100 mg/kg+ Boron @ 0.1% (838.0 g) , total soluble solid GA3 @ 30 mg/kg(5.04 ºBrix) and NAA @ 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid (12.90 mg/100g). The cultivar (Pusa Naveen) gives better response with the application of GA3 @ 50 mg/kg for sex expression and NAA @ 200 mg/kg+ Boron @ 0.1% for various growth and yield parameters. It can be recommended to enhance the production of bottle gourd under Garhwal valley of Uttarakhand.