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Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Vegetative Growth and Fruit Yield of Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) cv. Chandler

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is a short-lived (3-5 yrs.), perennial, vigorous, stoloniferous herb growing to 10-20cm height with a spread of about 0.3-1.0m. The United States is the world’s largest producer of strawberries accounting for about 30 percent of the world strawberry production (Morgan, 2012). In India, Haryana is the largest International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 9 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com


Introduction
Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is a short-lived (3-5 yrs.), perennial, vigorous, stoloniferous herb growing to 10-20cm height with a spread of about 0.3-1.0m. The United States is the world's largest producer of strawberries accounting for about 30 percent of the world strawberry production (Morgan, producer of strawberry with 2.01 million tonnes production (NHB, 2017-18). It is a minor fruit of temperate regions, due to advent of day neutral cultivars, it is being cultivated profitably even in tropical and subtropical regions. Its main center of cultivation is Nainital and Dehradun in Uttrakhand, Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), Kashmir Valley, Bangalore and Kalimpong (West Bengal). In recent years, strawberry is being cultivated successfully in plains of Maharashtra (around Pune, Nashik and Sangali towns), Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The wide variation in climates within these regions and the wide adaptation of the strawberry plant permit harvesting and marketing, the fruit during greater part of the year. The temperature and day-length (photoperiodism) have the considerable effect on growth and yield of the strawberry probably through the control of the production of plant hormones. An average growing temperature of 15ºC has been reported ideal for most of the strawberry cultivars and species. However, they grow well at a temperature range between 20ºC and 26ºC. It has been observed that high growth rates in strawberries are maintained at day temperatures of 22-23ºC.
Strawberry is amongst the top ten fruit crops which give quicker and very high returns per unit area on to the capital investment made. The fruits of strawberry become ready for harvesting within six months of planting. A single plant of strawberry produces varying yield potential of about 500g fruits per plant and per hectare average yield is about 5 tonnes/ha. It indicates that there is a scope of harvesting more yield from its cultivation. Yield is dependent upon many variables, it may be plant ideotype, cultivar, environment and care and management etc. There are many factors which influence plant health. PGR S and micronutrients are such type of input factors. Plant Growth Regulators (PGR S ) have proven their role in augmenting yield and growth in many fruits. PGR are either synthetic or natural compounds or that modify plant physiological processes at very minute concentrations. Use of GA 3 in strawberry has been reported in increasing yield and quality of fruit, helps in cell elongation and cell enlargement, increase vegetative growth and minimizes time of maturity. Application of NAA delays ripening and increases anthocyanin accumulation of strawberry fruits. It increases duration of growth and improves yield of fruits. Foliar application of salicylic acid and calcium gives better improvement in yield and its component and chemical properties of strawberry. Mean comparisons indicated yield, and quality of strawberry plants was improved in low salicylic acid and calcium chloride concentration Kazemi (2014). BA as a plant growth regulator is used for different purposes in fruit production. It influences fruit size and weight by increasing the number of cells per fruit through the stimulation of cell division.
Micronutrients, forming constituent part of plant are considered essential for the growth of plants. Proper supply of these nutrients is sure to yield positive effect on crop production. Foliar application of different micronutrients at proper stage helps in improving fruit yield and physiochemical characteristics of strawberry. It also helps in correcting micronutrients deficiency. Zinc (Zn) is an essential micro element for plants. It is involved in many enzymatic reactions. For growth and development of plant zinc is necessary (Shukla et al., 2009).
Growth of the receptacle is controlled primarily by auxin, which is synthesized in achenes, therefore ZnSO 4 is applied to increase fruit number, size and quality. The above explanation clearly highlights the affectivity of PGR S and micronutrients on vegetative growth, and fruit yield. Hence, it is being attempted to quantify their effect on strawberry culture.

Materials and Methods
The experiment entitled "Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Vegetative Growth and fruit yield of Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) cv.
Chandler" was carried out as a part of investigation. All facilities to carry out the experiment were available at the Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during the year 2015-2016 and 2016-17. Allahabad district is situated in the river basin of the Ganga and Yamuna and situated at 25 0 .57' Nlatitude 81 0 .5' Elongitude with an altitude of 98m above the mean sea level. The soil of the experimental area is sandy loam in texture with soil reaction in almost neutral range (pH 7.2) organic carbon (0.51%) is low, nitrogen (225 kg ha -1 ) and potassium (87.00kg ha -1 ) is available in medium but phosphorus (21.50 kg ha -1 ) is low. Annual rainfall is 1100 mm precipitating mostly in between middle of July to end of September -January is the coldest month when mercury may drop down to an average minimum of 5 0 on the other hand May -June are the hottest month recording average high temperature above 46 0 C.

Results and Discussion
The findings of the present experiment entitled "effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on vegetative growth and fruit yield of Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) cv. Chandler" is briefly discussed and presented in table 1 and 2. This study was under taken to examine the effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrient on vegetative growth and yield of strawberry.
In terms of vegetative parameters, it was found that Plant height, plant spread, number of leaves and Petiole length were significantly increased during the both year by different treatments of plant growth regulators and micronutrient at all successive stage of growth.  Yadav et al., (2017) and Rafeii and Pakkish (2014) also reported the similar response in terms of yield with the application of plant growth regulators and micronutrient and stated that it is due to the better physiological and metabolic activity of growth hormones and micronutrient combinations in strawberry plants.
It is concluded, on the basis of present investigation in both successive year 2015-16 and 2016-17, it is concluded that the treatment T 17 (GA 3 75ppm+ Zinc sulphate 0.4% + Boric acid 0.4%) was found best in terms of vegetative growth and yield characters of strawberry. So application of this PGR and Micronutrient combination can be recommended to growers after few more conjunctive trials.