Response of long melon (Cucumis melo var utilissimus) to foliar application of plant-growth substances

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during summer season of  1991 and 1992 to study the effect of foliar sprays of ethephon, gibberellic acid (GA₃), maleic hydrazide (MH) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on vegetative growth. flowering and yield of 'Hisar Local Selection' long melon (Cucumis melo L. var utilissimus Duth. & Full.). GA₃ @ 25 mg/litre applied atthe stage of 2 and 4 true leaves improved the main vine length (3.97 m), whereas MH @ 200 mg/litre suppressed it  to minimum (2.11 m). NAA @25 mg/litre, ethephon at all the concentrations and MH @50 and 100 mg/litre also suppressed the main vine length compared with the untreated control. Ethephon @ 250 mg/litre, which effectively increased the
branches/plant (10.S) compared witlt the control (5.2), reduced the internodal length (8 cm) and male: female ratio (3.1), and gave the earliest (68 days) and the maximum number of female flowers (27), fruits (17.7) and total yield (1.36 kg/plant). Enthephon @ 250 mg/litre gave the maximum fruit yield (29.76 tonnes/ha.) and GA3 @ 25 mg/litre the minimum (11.08 tonnes/ha).