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An investigation on the effect of growth regulators on growth and
flowering of Anthurium andreanum Linden was conducted in the Department
of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1998-2000.
Mature plants of three varieties of Anthurium andreanum Linden
formed the material. The varieties used were Liver Red (L.R.), Ceylon Red
(C.R.) and Kalympong Orange (K.O.). Three growth regulators namely
Gibberellic Acid (GA), Tri Iodo Benzoic Acid (TIBA) and Kinetin (K) were
used at 100 ppm, 300 ppm and 500 ppm concentrations. Two controls i.e.,
distilled water spray and no spray were also included. Each concentration of
the growth regulator was sprayed three times at one month intervals.
Observations were taken three months after the first spray and then at three
months intervals, twice more. The effect of treatments on morphological
floral, physiological and bio-chemical aspects was studied.
Results of the experiments revealed that growth regulators had
significant effect on most of the characters under study. They are listed
below.
;.. Maximum plant height was obtained nine months after the first spray
for K.O. treated with GA at 500 ppm (69.82 cm).
;.. Minimum plant spread (EW) - nine months afte~ the first spray was
obtained for K.O. treated with TIBA at 100 ppm (28.44 cm) and
minimum plant spread (NS) was recorded by K.O. - no spray (28.02
cm) in the ninth month of observation.


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~ Maximum number of leaves/spadices per year (9.0) was recorded by
C.R. treated with GA at 300 and 500 ppm.
~ Minimum number of days (40.8) taken for successive leaf production
was obtained for C.R. treated with GA at 300 and 500 ppm.
~ Highest" number of suckers/plant (4.6) was produced by K.O. treated
with GA at 500 ppm, obtained nine months after the first spray.
~ The highest length of spadix (43.52 cm) was showed six months after
the first spray by L.R. treated with GA at 500 ppm.
~ Largest spathe (95.4 cm2) was recorded three months after the first
spray by K.O. treated with GA at 500 ppm.
~ Highest longevity of spadix (103 days) was obtained for L.R. treated
with kinetin at 500 ppm.
~ Smallest candle size was obtained nine months after the first spray by
the variety C.R. treated with TIBA at 500 ppm (4.1 cm).
~ Highest chlorophyll content (2.16 mg/g tissue) was recorded rune
months after the first spray by K.O. treated with GA at 500 ppm.
~ Highest carotenoid content (10.41 mg/lOO g sample) was obtained six
months after the first spray by L.R. treated with GA at 300 ppm.
~ Highest anthocyanin content (388.2 mg/l OOg sample) was recorded six
months after the first spray by L.R. (control 1) distilled water spray.
~ Highest protein content (109 mg/ g tissue) was obtained six months
after the first spray by K.O. treated with kinetin at 500 ppm.
~ Highest phenol content (121.2 mg/g tissue) was recorded three months
after the first spray by K.O. treated with kinetin at 500 ppm.


Based on the economics of growth regulator application, G.A. 500 ppm
was the best treatment with positive profit increase in all the three varieties.
This treatment achieved an enhanced profit of Rs. 133.70 per plant per year in
the variety L.R., Rs. 86.30 enhanced profit in K.O. and Rs. 70.10 in the
variety C.R.