Foliar Application of GA(3) Stimulates Seed Production in Cauliflower

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of gibberellic acid on both concentration and time of application on the seed production ability of BU cauliflower-1. The experiment was conducted to determine seed production ability at five concentrations of GA(3) : G(0) = Control, G(1) = 100 ppm, G(2) = 200 ppm, G(3) = 300 ppm, G(4) = 400 ppm, along with four application times at different growth stages including T-1 = Foliar application at 3 weeks after planting, T-2 = Foliar application at 4 weeks after planting, T-3 = Foliar application at 5 weeks after planting and T-4 = Foliar application at 6 weeks after planting. Results revealed that 200 ppm GA(3) gave the highest plant height (44.05 cm), the number of primary (10.88) and secondary flowering branches (31.33), stalk length (79.53 cm), seeded pods per plant (465), pod length (4.975 cm), seeds per pod (10.87), seed yield per plant (16.16 g), seed yield (0.24 ton/ha), and weight of thousand seeds (4.826 g) with the earliest curd (51.02 days) and flower initiation (84.17 days). It also gave the highest net return (Tk. 4.7 lakh/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (4.34). GA(3) application at 3 weeks after transplanting had the highest numbers of primary and secondary flowering branches, pods, seeded pods, and seed yield per plant. The treatment combination of G(2) Ti gave the earliest curd initiation (49.60 days), the highest number of secondary flowering branches (34.87), seed yield per plant (22.75 g), and seed yield (0.27 ton/h). In contrast, the G(2)T(2) treatment resulted in the earliest flower initiation (81.77 days) with the highest pod length (5.20 cm), the number of pods per plant (707), and seeded pods per plant (507), and seeds per pod (11.30). Hence, 200 ppm GA(3) applied three weeks after transplanting could be used as the best combination for cauliflower seed production with the highest net return and benefit-cost ratio. Enhancing seed yield is our ultimate goal; hence, we suggest 200 ppm GA(3) three weeks after transplanting for increased cauliflower seed production with the highest return and benefit-cost ratio in the study area. As we performed the study in a particular location, we recommend multilocation trials in different agro-ecological regions to study the genotyp-environment interaction for final confirmation of the results.