Abstract

The effect of growth retardants like CCC, SADH and morphactin alongwith ethrel at two concentrations of each to different stages of plant growth was observed on fruit- ing and yield in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) Duch. ex: pair.) Selection-124. All the growth retardants at different stages inferred the first fruit set at the lower nodes between 8.6 and 14.0, while ethrel treatment produced the fruit set be:ween 3.3 and 43. Ethral 100ppm at the initial stages proved to be the best treatment in increasing the number of fruits. Ethrel developed smaller size of fruits, which can commercially be exploi- ted. The 244 leaf stage gave better yield with CCC 400ppm and morphactin, while at 2-leaf and 2+4+6 leaf stage ethrel and SADH proved promising. The increase in yield of 4.0 kg per vine is a spectacular increase in case of pumpkin, where fruit is carried to maturity on vine itself.

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