Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important root vegetable valued for its nutritional and economic importance. Its growth, yield and quality are influenced by plant growth regulators; however, information on the comparative effects of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and homobrassinolide (HBL) on beetroot under the semi-arid agro-climatic conditions of Rajasthan remains limited. The present investigation entitled was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025 at the Agronomy Research Farm, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) comprising seven treatments with three replications to evaluate the influence of different concentrations of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and Homobrassinolide (HBL) on the growth, yield, quality and economics of beetroot. The results revealed that Homobrassinolide @ 1 ppm (T₆) proved to be the most effective treatment, recording the maximum plant height (42.19 cm at 75 DAS), number of leaves per plant (19.4 at 75 DAS), root length (16.11 cm), root diameter (8.22 cm) and total root yield (479.70 q ha⁻¹), compared with 28.43 cm, 12.9, 10.90 cm, 5.20 cm and 284.10 q ha⁻¹, respectively, under the control (T₁). Among the NAA treatments, NAA @ 200 ppm (T₃) recorded a plant height of 36.62 cm at 75 DAS, 16.2 leaves per plant at 75 DAS, a root length of 13.76 cm, a root diameter of 6.91 cm and a total root yield of 411.50 q ha⁻¹. In terms of quality, T₆ recorded the highest carotenoid content (3.27 mg 100 g⁻¹), total chlorophyll content (1.83 mg 100 g⁻¹) and anthocyanin content (55.88 mg 100 g⁻¹), compared with 2.13, 0.85 and 37.56 mg 100 g⁻¹, respectively, under the control. Among the NAA treatments, NAA @ 200 ppm (T₃) recorded 2.76 mg 100 g⁻¹ carotenoids, 1.28 mg 100 g⁻¹ total chlorophyll and 46.87 mg 100 g⁻¹ anthocyanin, indicating better performance than NAA @ 100 ppm. Economically, Homobrassinolide @ 1 ppm (T₆) recorded the highest gross return (₹3,83,760 ha⁻¹), net return (₹2,92,760 ha⁻¹) and benefit ratio (3.22), compared with ₹1,70,460 ha⁻¹, ₹88,460 ha⁻¹ and 1.08, respectively, under the control. Among the NAA treatments, NAA @ 200 ppm (T₃) recorded a gross return of ₹3,29,200 ha⁻¹, which was higher than the ₹2,68,293 ha⁻¹ recorded under NAA @ 100 ppm. Overall, Homobrassinolide @ 1 ppm was found to be the most effective treatment for improving growth, yield, quality and economic returns of beetroot, while NAA @ 200 ppm was the most effective treatment among the NAA concentrations.
Jyoti Yadav, Dipayan Sarkar, M. Bundela et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Aim: The present investigation was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, to evaluate the influence of plant growth regulators as seed treatments and foliar sprays on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.).
Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2025–2026.
Methodology: The experiment comprised eight treatments: Control (T₁), GA₃ @ 50 ppm (T₂), Ethrel @ 200 ppm (T₃), 2,4-D @ 5 ppm (T₄), Triacontanol @ 0.5 ml of 0.1% (T₅), NAA @ 10 ppm seed soaking + 5 ppm foliar spray (T₆), BAP @ 50 ppm (T₇) and CPA @ 50 ppm (T₈). Treatments were arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Observations were recorded on reproductive parameters including days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, and fruit weight.
Results: Application of plant growth regulators significantly influenced all reproductive parameters of okra. Triacontanol (T₅) induced the earliest flowering (34.68 days) and first harvest (49.99 days), while 2,4-D (T₄) recorded the minimum days to 50% flowering (44.03 days). Triacontanol also produced the maximum fruit diameter (1.88 cm), fruit length (13.19 cm) and fruit weight (17.23 g). The highest number of fruits per plant (36.38) was observed with NAA (T₆), followed closely by Triacontanol (35.13). In contrast, the untreated control recorded delayed flowering, later harvest, and the lowest values for all reproductive traits. The superior performance of Triacontanol may be attributed to enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, improved assimilate translocation and better hormonal regulation, resulting in early floral initiation and improved fruit development.
Conclusion: Among the plant growth regulators evaluated, Triacontanol @ 0.5 ml of 0.1% applied through seed soaking and foliar spray proved to be the most effective in enhancing the reproductive performance of okra by promoting early flowering, early harvesting, and superior fruit quality attributes. Therefore, Triacontanol can be recommended for improving the reproductive phase and productivity of okra under the agro-climatic conditions of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
S. Meena, M. Bundela, Dipayan Sarkar et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations
Background: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) productivity and fruit quality are strongly influenced by nutrient availability and crop-management practices. Humic acid and seaweed extract are plant biostimulants that may enhance vegetative growth, yield, and quality when applied at appropriate concentrations.
Aims: This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of foliar-applied humic acid and seaweed extract on the growth, yield, fruit quality, and economic performance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Arka Samrat.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, during the Rabi season of 2025–26.
Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with two factors: humic acid at four concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mL/L) and seaweed extract at four concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mL/L). The 16 treatment combinations were replicated three times, and the observed data were analysed using OPSTAT.
Results: Significant differences were observed among the treatments. Among the treatment combinations, humic acid at 4 mL/L combined with seaweed extract at 4 mL/L (M3T3) recorded the greatest plant height (312.62 cm), number of branches per plant (9.07), plant spread (65.92 cm), number of leaves per plant (69.13), number of clusters per plant (11.80), and number of flowers per cluster (9.01). It also recorded the fewest days to first flowering (27.69), 50% flowering (36.96), and first fruiting (41.95), together with the greatest number of fruits per cluster (8.24), average fruit weight (109.73 g), fruit yield per plant (6.40 kg), number of fruits per plant (58.35), total soluble solids (4.99 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (26.68 mg/100 g), and benefit–cost ratio (2.97).
Conclusion: The treatment combination of humic acid at 4 mL/L and seaweed extract at 4 mL/L (M3T3) produced the most favourable growth, yield, quality, and economic responses under the conditions of this experiment. However, these findings are indicative and require further experimentation across seasons and locations before broader recommendations can be made.
Tamanna Nehra, Dipayan Sarkar, U. Shukla et al.· Journal of Advances in Biolo...· 0 citations