Interaction effect of growth regulator and micronutrient on mass multiplication of Azolla microphylla

An experiment entitled "Interaction effect of growth regulator and micronutrient on mass multiplication of Azolla microphylla” was undertaken at Plant Pathology Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during the year 2023-2024. The experiment was conducted in FCRD with five main factors and three sub factors in three replications. The main treatment comprises of application of growth regulator viz., (IAA, IBA, GA, chitosan @ 10 ppm) and uninoculated control. The sub factor consisting of application of micronutrient (SSP, Fe @ 10 ppm) and uninoculated control. The observations were on fresh and dry weight of Azolla, chlorophyll content, heterocyst percent, root length, nitrogen and phosphorus content at 30, 45 and 60 DAI. It was revealed from the pot culture experimentation, among the growth regulator IAA, IBA and chitosan was found significantly superior over all other treatments. Among the micronutrient, ferrous was found significantly superior. However, application of IAA in combination with ferrous enhanced fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content and heterocyst percentage, application of chitosan along with ferrous enhanced N and P content, and application of IBA in combination with ferrous enhanced root length significantly at all the intervals under study. There was significant effect of individual application of growth regulator and nutrients were noticed. Root length was significantly affected by individual application of growth regulator, micronutrient and their interaction over uninoculated control. Application of IBA, increase the root length 7.28 cm at 30 DAI, 7.60 cm at 45 DAI and 7.48 cm at 60 DAI. Similar observation of ferrous (Fe) treatment enhances root length (6.03, 6.22 and 6.33 cm) at 30, 45 and 60 DAI respectively. Interaction effect was found to be significant. Thus, the inoculation of IBA in combination with micronutrient ferrous highly influence all the parameters significantly and can be used for the multiplication of Azolla in pot culture.