Influence of Bio-Stimulants on Flowering, Yield and Disease Incidence in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora T.) cv. Local Yellow

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to study the influence of bio-stimulants on flowering, yield and disease incidence in chrysanthemum cv. Local yellow. Different bio-stimulant formulations such as Trichoderma viride (9, 18 and 36 g per plant), Pseudomonas fluorescens (9, 18 and 36 g per plant) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (9, 18 and 36 g per plant) were applied to soil. Significant variations in flowering and wilt disease incidence were noticed with application of bio-stimulants. The plants treated with T. viride (18 g per plant) recorded earlier days to flower bud formation (62.66 days) and flowering (82.20 days), maximum duration of flowering (54.55 days), highest catalase activity (0.85 units/mg protein/min), peroxidase activity (0.99 units/mg protein/min) and lowest disease incidence (18.00 %) and percent disease index (16.66 %). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (18 g per plant) recorded maximum shelf life (5.10 days), capitulum diameter (6.21 cm), flower yield per plot (14.14 kg) and number of pickings (10.12). Bio-stimulants in horticulture has been the focus of scientific interest for quite some time now. As the need for sustainable, eco-friendly and innovative horticulture solutions grows, more and more studies are being done on the efficacy of bio-stimulants.