Plant Growth Regulators for Improved Fruit Quality and Profitability of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.) under Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2024 and 2025 under a naturally ventilated polyhouse at the Vegetable Research Farm, CSKHPKV, Palampur, to evaluate the influence of plant growth regulators on capsicum productivity and economics. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications, comprising 13 treatments involving foliar application of GA₃ and NAA at 50 and 75 ppm during different crop growth stages. The results revealed that NAA @ 75 ppm applied as four sprays at vegetative stage, flower initiation, and 30 and 60 days after flower initiation significantly improved pericarp thickness (5.94 mm), total soluble solids (6.9˚B), ascorbic acid content (126.17 mg/100g) and titratable acidity (0.206%) whereas, GA₃ applied @ 75 ppm with four sprays at the same stages recorded highest yield (22.81 q/250m2) and its attributes, making it the most economically rewarding treatment for commercial cultivation of capsicum variety ‘Indra’ under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions of mid hills of Himachal Pradesh.