Effect of ethrel, 2,4-D and MH on growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in costus spec/os us (Koening) smith

Abstract

An experiment to study the effect of ethrel, 2,4-D and MH on the growth, rhizome yield and diosgenin content in Costus speciosus was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Plant height was significantly reduced by ethrel and MM at the levels tried. Ethrel 100 and 200 ppm significantly increased the number of tillers per plant. The length, width and leaf area and internodal length of shoot was significantly reduced by ethrel treatments while total leaf area was higher in plants treated with 2,4-D (10 and 20 ppm). Ethrel 200 ppm recorded maximum yield of green and dry rhizomes. Diosgenin content of the rhizome was found to be the highest in the plants treated with 2,4-D 10 ppm. Shoot/rhizome ratio was significantly reduced by Ml I treatments.