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FOLIAR APPLICATION OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS (PGRs) AND NUTRIENTS FOR IMPROVEMENT  OF LILY FLOWERS

G. MUSTAFA SAJID, MAHMOONA KAUKAB AND ZAHOOR AHMAD

Abstract: Foliar application of either GA₃ (20mgL^-1), or a nutrient solution (comprising of KNO₃, 19mgL^-1; NH₄NO₃, 16.5 mgL^-1; KH₂PO_4, 1.7mgL^-1, CaCl_2, 4.4 mgL^-1 and MgSO_4, 3.7mgL^-1) or both on lily plants was undertaken. It was found that flower stem length of the plants sprayed with nutrients alone increased by 25% over those of the control plants. Mean shoot length of the plants sprayed with both the hormones and nutrients increased by 33% over the control plants and by 6% over the other set of plants, which received the treatment of nutrients alone. Number of nodes per stem was also found to increase in the dually treated plants by 71% and 42% in that order. The plants receiving dual treatment harbored 92% greater number of buds per stem over the control plants whereas nutrients- alone treated lily plant showed only 28% greater number of buds. Mean number of flowers produced by nutrient fed plants was 14% greater over the control plants. Foliar application of GA₃ and nutrients application was found to have improved the productivity and quality of lily cut flowers and may be exploited commercially in horticulture industry to fetch premium price for cut flowers.

In vitro Laboratory, Plant Genetic Resources Programme, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

mustafasajid2000@yahoo.com