Effect of Ethrel and Cycocel on Vegetative and Flowering Characters of Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ethrel and cycocel on vegetative and flowering characters of pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)” in Horticulture Research Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, during October 2023 to March 2024. The objective was to identify the most suitable dose of ethrel and cycocel on the vegetative and flowering characters of pansy plant. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD), with eleven treatments and three replications. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences among the various treatments of pansies for all observed parameters. From the present investigation, it was observed that among the different treatments, the treatment T7 (Ethrel @ 100 ppm) was found superior in terms of chlorophyll content (56.34), plant spread (12.47 cm), leaf area (37.11 cm2) and self-life (5.07 days), whereas, the treatment T10 (Ethrel @ 250 ppm) showed superiority in terms of number of leaves (62.40) and number of branches (6.47). Among the different treatments, the highest gross return ₹9000 per 100 pots, net return ₹2942.65 per 100 pots and benefit cost ratio 1.48, was recorded in treatment T7 (Ethrel @ 100 ppm). Hence, T7 (Ethrel @ 100 ppm) can be recommended for plant growth and flowering of Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis) and treatment T10 (Ethrel @ 250 ppm) can be recommended for the delayed flower producing and compact plant production.