Interaction effect of seedling age and different doses of GA3 on growth and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 during the period from October 2010 to March 2011 to find out the effect of GA₃ and seedling age on the growth and yield of tomato. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of four concentration of GA₃ such as control G₀ = no GA₃, G₁= 75 ppm GA₃, G₂ = 100 ppm GA₃ and G₃ =125 ppm GA₃; three different seedling ages such as S₁= 20 days, S₂ = 25 days and S₃ = 30 days old seedling. All parameter varied significantly at different concentration of GA₃ in different DAT. The combined effect of G₃S₃ (125 ppm GA₃ with 30 days old seedling) gave the maximum yield (90.28 t ha^-1), on the other hand combined effect of G₀S₁ (no GA₃ with 20 days old seedling) gave the minimum yield (59.83 t ha^-1). The maximum yield (2.79 kg) plant^-1 was recorded from treatment combination of G₃S₃ and the minimum yield (1.20 kg) was recorded from treatment combination G₀S₁. The maximum yield (32.47 kg) plot^-1 was recorded from treatment combination G₃S₃ and the minimum yield (21.52 kg) plot^-1 was recorded from treatment combination G₀S₁. The maximum yield (90.28 t ha^-1) was recorded from treatment combination of G₃S₃ and the minimum yield (59.83 t ha^-1) was recorded from treatment combination of G₀S₁. Therefore, 125 ppm GA₃ with 30 days old seedling was found suitable combination for tomato production.