Influence of Gibberellic Acid Concentrations and Dipping Durations on Growth and Yield of Bitter Gourd

This research was carried out at Horticulture Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during 2016. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors, replicated three times. Factor A was gibberellic acid concentrations i.e. 0, 20, 40 and 60 mgL^- 1, while factor B was comprised of dipping durations i.e. 0, 6, 12, and 18 hours respectively. Gibberellic acid concentrations and dipping durations had significant effect on the growth and yield of bitter gourd. Gibberellic acid concentration at @ 60 mgL^-1 significantly reduced days to emergence and days to first flower, while increased germination percentage, number of fruits plant^-1, fruit length, fruit weight, plant height, yield plot^-1, total yield and survival percentage. In case of dipping durations, seeds dipped for 18 hours significantly reduced days to emergence and days to first flower, while increased germination percentage, number of fruits plant^-1, fruit length, fruit weight, plant height, yield plot^-1 and total yield. Interaction was found nonsignificant for all the studied parameters except days to emergence, germination percentage and survival percentage. Seeds dipped in gibberellic acid at a level of 60 mgL^-1 for 18 hours significantly reduced days to emergence, while increased germination percentage and survival percentage. From results it is concluded that seeds dipped for 18 hours in 60 mgL^-1 of gibberellic acid concentrations showed best results on growth and yield of bitter gourd under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.