EFFECT OF BORON AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF TOMATO

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, during the Rabi season from November 2015 to March 2016 to study the effects of boron (B) and gibberellic acid (GA3) on growth, yield and quality of tomato. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications of each treatment. The unit plot size was 2m x 1.8m. There were 12 treatment combinations in the experiment comprising 3 levels of Boron (0 kg ha-1, 0.8 kg ha -1& 1 kg ha-1 designated as B0, B1 & B2 respectively) and 4 levels of gibberellic acid (0 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm & 150 ppm designated as G0, G1, G2 & G3 respectively). The effect of different doses of boron, gibberellic acid and their combined effect showed significant variations in growth, yield and quality of tomato. Individual application of B1 @ 0.8 kg ha-1 gave the highest plant height, no. of leaves per plant, flower clusters per plant, flowers per cluster, fruit per plant, fruit wt per plant (2.391 Kg), fruit wt per plot (24.91 Kg), fruit yield (69.20 t ha -1), TSS 7.233 %, vitamin-C (98.72 mg per 100g) but B2 @ 1 kg ha -1 gave highest β-carotene (0.3167 mg per 100g). And G2 @ 100 ppm gave the highest plant height, number of Leaves per plant, flower clusters per plant, fruit per plant (1.995 kg), fruit wt per plot (19.67 kg), fruit yield (54.63 t ha-1), TSS 7.389 %, β- carotene (0.3178 mg per 100g), vitamin-C (91.45 mg per 100g). In case of combined effect, B1G2 (B1 @ 0.8 kg ha -1 + G2 @ 100 ppm) gave the highest plant height, no. of leaves per plant, flower clusters per plant, flowers per cluster, fruit per cluster, fruit per plant, fruit wt per plant (2.57 Kg), fruit wt per plot (28.25 Kg), fruit yield (78.46 t ha -1), TSS 7.6%, β-Carotene (0.35 mg per 100g), vitamin- C (111.5 mg per 100g). Finally, it was concluded that B1G2 (B1 @ 0.8 kg ha -1 + G2 @ 100 ppm) was the best for growth, yield and quality of tomato.