Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
293
Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1007.031
Response of Vegetable Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]
to Foliar Application of PGRs
J. P. Sarvaiya
1*
, S. N. Saravaiya
1
, H. S. Patel
1
and Y. N. Tandel
2
1
Department of Vegetable Science,
2
Department of Fruit Science, ASPEE College of
Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, India
*Corresponding author
A B S T R A C T
Introduction
Vegetables are integral part of a balanced diet.
Amongst horticultural crops, vegetables have
gained importance not only in providing better
per unit returns but also in providing
nutritional security. The role of vegetables as a
major source of phytonutraceuticals like
vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibers are
being well recognized in a balanced diet.
Vegetables are important part of healthy
dietary and provide source of income to
farmers, seed producers, processors and
traders (Sable et al., 2020). India is the second
largest producer of vegetable in the world
after China producing around 188 million
International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 10 Number 07 (2021)
Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com
A field experiment was carried out, at the Vegetable Research Farm, RHRS of the
NAU, Navsari during Summer 2020 on cv. AVCP 1. The experiment was conducted
in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, which included 13
treatments. The results revealed that application of CCC 300 μl l
-1
recorded higher
values for growth parameters namely, days to 50 % flowering (57.33 days), leaf area
(7058.87 cm
2
), leaf area index (5.23), days to first picking(67.67 days), number of
primary branches plant
-1
at final picking(8.53), fresh weight of plant at final picking
(0.643 kg), number of cluster plant
-1
(35.27). Whereas higher values for number of
leaves plant
-1
(57.07) was recorded with the application of NAA 20 mg l
-1
.
Application of CCC 400 μl l
-1
recorded higher values for plant height at final picking
(57.93 cm) and number of pods cluster
-1
(3.31). Foliar application of CCC 300 μl l
-1
recorded significantly higher values for pod characters namely, pod length (14.10 cm),
number of marketable pods plant
-1
(112.93) and marketable pod yield (10.44 t ha
-1
).
From the economic point of view and based on green pod yield, for securing
maximum return, foliar application of CCC 300 μl l
-1
was found superior with highest
B:CR value of 2.2 followed by T
11
(B:CR value of 2.1).
Keywords
Cow pea, NAA,
PCPA, 2,4-D, CCC,
Growth and Yield
Accepted:
15 June 2021
Available Online:
10 July 2021
Article Info
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
294
tonne from just 10.5 million hectare area.
Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and
Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more
than 60 per cent of the total production. In
India total area under cowpea cultivation is 1.5
million hectare whereas, in Gujarat it is
cultivated commercially in an area of 0.5 lakh
hectare (Anonymous, 2020).
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.),
2n=2x=22 belongs to family Fabaceae,
popularly known as chauli is an important
legume vegetable crop. It is grown in tropics
for its tender green pods and shelled immature
seeds used as vegetable and dry seeds used as
pulse. It is grown for immature pods and
mature grains. The haulms are also fed to
livestock. Cowpea is known as drought hardy
nature, its wide and droopy leaves keeps soils
and soil moisture conserved due to shading
effect. It is also known as black-eyed pea or
southern pea etc. and has multiple uses like
food, feed, forage, fodder, green manuring and
vegetable (Saravaiya et al., 2014).
Though, the PGRs have great potential, its
application and accurate assessments etc. have
to be judiciously planned in terms of optimal
concentration, stage of application, species
specificity and seasons. In their wide spectrum
of effectiveness on every aspect of plant
growth, even a modest increase of 10-15 per
cent could bring about an increment in the
gross annual productivity by 10-15 t ha
-1
(Sharma and Lashkari, 2009).
These synthetic PGRs are put into several uses
in horticulture, one of them is to increase crop
yield and improve quality. The growth
behavior of many plants could be modified or
controlled by applying small amount of plant
growth regulators, either by seed soaking, root
dipping or whole plant spray.
Among several growth substances,
gibberellins and auxins are very promising and
these are being used on large scale in number
of vegetable crops. The growth promoters like
NAA and 2,4-D enhance the source-sink
relationship and modified translocation of
photosynthates, which will help in better
retention of flowers and fruits and seed filling
at the later stages of crop growth. The
influence of CCC on the leaf colour can be
seen shortly after application. The change in
colour is due to a higher chlorophyll-
synthesis. To achieve optimum vegetative
growth and better translocation of
phytosynthates in developing pods, the use of
growth regulators appears to be an excellent
tool which regulate plant growth and finally
alter the plant architecture and yield
improvement. However, very rare information
is available on this aspect; therefore, the aim
of the present study was to investigate the
response of foliar application of PGRs on
growth, yield and quality of vegetable cowpea.
Hence, the research study entitled “Response
of vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.)
Walp.] to foliar application of PGRS”using
cultivar „AVCP 1‟ was carried out at
Vegetable Research Farm, Regional
Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE
College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari
Agricultural University, Navsari with the
following objectives:
To evaluate the effect of foliar application of
PGRsviz., NAA, PCPA, 2,4-D and CCC
on growth parameters of vegetable cowpea
To evaluate the effect of foliar application of
PGRs viz., NAA, PCPA, 2,4-D and CCC on
yield parameters of vegetable cowpea
Materials and Methods
A field experiment entitled “Response of
vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.)
Walp.] to foliar application of PGRS” was laid
out on cowpea during 2020 at Vegetable
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
295
Research Farm, Regional Horticultural
Research Station, ASPEE College of
Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari
Agricultural University, Navsari.
According to agro-climatic conditions of
Gujarat state, Navsari falls under „South
Gujarat Heavy Rainfall Zone, AES-III‟. The
climate of this zone is typically tropical and
monsoonic. An average rainfall of the tract is
about 1500 mm and is normally receive by
second fortnight of June and cease by
September end.
There were thirteen treatment viz. T
1
: Control
(No spray), T
2
: NAA 10 mg l
-1
, T
3
: NAA 15
mg l
-1
, T
4
: NAA 20 mg l
-1
, T
5
: PCPA 10 mg
l
-1
, T
6
: PCPA 15 mg l
-1
, T
7
: PCPA 20 mg l
-1
,
T
8
: 2,4-D 0.5 mg l
-1
, T
9
: 2,4-D 1.0 mg l
-1
, T
10
: 2,4-D 1.5 mg l
-1
, T
11
: CCC 200 μl l
-1
, T
12
:
CCC 300 μl l
-1
and T
13
: CCC 400 μl l
-1
.
Observations were recorded for different
parameters. The number of days from the date
of sowing to date on which 50 per cent of the
plants flowers in net plot was recorded as days
to 50 per cent flowering for each treatment.
Plant height was measured in centimeter (cm)
from ground level to tip of the main stem with
the help of measuring tape at final picking.
First picking of immature pod for vegetable
purpose was started as the pods get marketable
size.
The days to first picking were counted from
the date of sowing to date of first harvest of
individual experimental plot. The days to last
picking were counted from date of sowing to
date of last picking of each respective plot and
it was recorded.
The number of primary branches per plant was
counted at the time of final picking and
average was worked out. From the five
randomly selected pods, the length of pod was
measured in centimeter from the stalk to the
apex by thread and mean values were worked
out. Leaf area was measured with the help of
leaf area meter at final picking and average
value was worked out. Number of cluster per
plant were counted from five tagged plants at
the time of each picking and average was
worked out.
Results and Discussion
Influence on growth parameters
Growth parameters viz., days to 50 %
flowering, number of leaves plant
-1
, leaf area,
LAI, plant height, days to first picking, days to
last, picking number of primary branches
plant
-1
, fresh weight of plant, number of
cluster plant
-1
and number of pods cluster
-1
were significantly influenced by the foliar
application of PGRs.
CCC 300 μl l
-1
found best and recorded the
minimum days to 50 % flowering (57.33
days). NAA 20 mg l
-1
found best and recorded
the maximum number of leaves plant
-1
(57.07). CCC 300 μl l
-1
found best and
recorded the maximum leaf area (7058.87
cm
2
). CCC 300 μl l
-1
found best and recorded
the maximum leaf area index (5.23).
CCC 400 μl l
-1
found best and recorded the
minimum plant height at final picking (57.93
cm). CCC 300 μl l
-1
found best and recorded
the minimum days to first picking(67.67).
PCPA 20 mg l
-1
found best and recorded the
maximum days to last picking(136). CCC 300
μl l
-1
found best and recorded the maximum
number of primary branches plant
-1
at final
picking(8.53). CCC 300 μl l
-1
found best and
recorded the maximum fresh weight of plant
at final picking (0.643 kg). CCC 300 μl l
-
1
found best and recorded the maximum
number of cluster plant
-1
(35.27). CCC 400 μl
l
-1
found best and recorded the maximum
number of pods cluster
-1
(3.31).
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
296
Table.1 Effect of foliar application of PGRs on different traits of cow pea cv. AVCP 1.
Days to 50
%
flowering
Number of
leaves
plant
-1
Leaf
area
(cm
2
)
Leaf
area
index
Plant
height
(cm)
Days to
first
picking
Days to
last
picking
Number of
primary
branches plant
-1
63.00
47.80
5333.32
3.95
62.10
74.67
126.33
6.73
61.00
48.00
5801.21
4.30
69.27
72.00
119.67
7.60
60.33
56.33
6951.77
5.15
69.60
71.33
116.00
7.93
60.00
57.07
6879.44
5.10
70.80
71.00
117.00
8.00
66.00
41.53
4735.00
3.51
62.20
77.67
128.67
7.07
66.00
43.00
4806.98
3.56
60.83
78.33
130.33
7.00
67.67
44.87
5180.40
3.84
59.87
79.00
136.00
6.67
61.33
45.13
5047.09
3.74
58.70
71.33
124.00
7.13
62.00
46.87
5417.95
4.01
62.77
71.33
122.33
7.53
61.67
52.67
6277.59
4.65
66.03
72.33
120.67
7.20
58.67
56.93
6957.67
5.15
61.33
69.67
117.67
7.67
57.33
56.27
7058.87
5.23
59.70
67.67
115.33
8.53
58.00
52.47
6457.25
4.78
57.93
68.33
116.67
8.07
2.15
3.79
464.94
0.34
2.74
2.49
4.32
0.28
6.26
11.05
1356.85
1.01
7.99
7.26
12.60
0.81
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
297
Table.2 Effect of foliar application of PGRs on different traits of cow pea cv. AVCP 1.
Treatments
Fresh
weight of
plant (kg)
Number of
cluster plant
-
1
Number of
pods cluster
-1
Pod length
(cm)
Number of
marketable
pods plant
-1
Marketable pod
yield
(t ha
-1
)
T
1
: Control
0.434
30.27
2.89
12.34
86.98
6.04
T
2
: NAA 10 mg l
-1
0.591
32.00
2.92
13.53
93.30
9.06
T
3
: NAA 15 mg l
-1
0.599
33.07
3.09
13.66
101.45
9.56
T
4
: NAA 20 mg l
-1
0.606
33.47
3.18
13.56
106.07
9.65
T
5
: PCPA 10 mg l
-1
0.374
31.13
2.28
12.94
70.68
4.93
T
6
: PCPA 15 mg l
-1
0.423
30.40
2.32
12.40
70.30
4.71
T
7
: PCPA 20 mg l
-1
0.421
28.67
2.41
13.11
68.84
4.57
T
8
: 2,4-D 0.5 mg l
-1
0.438
29.53
3.04
12.79
88.87
7.17
T
9
: 2,4-D 1.0 mg l
-1
0.436
31.53
2.95
12.71
92.93
7.35
T
10
: 2,4-D 1.5 mg l
-1
0.506
29.27
3.30
12.91
96.33
8.37
T
11
: CCC 200 μl l
-1
0.590
33.73
3.07
14.07
103.58
10.08
T
12
: CCC 300 μl l
-1
0.643
35.27
3.20
14.10
112.93
10.44
T
13
: CCC 400 μl l
-1
0.600
33.53
3.31
13.75
110.98
9.79
S.Em.±
0.06
1.34
0.16
0.37
3.73
0.55
C.D. at 5 %
0.16
3.92
0.48
1.08
10.89
1.61
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
298
Table.3 Economics of different treatments (₹ ha
-1
)
Treatments
Pod yield
(t ha
-1
)
Treatment
Cost
Operational
Cost
Total
Cost
Gross
Return
Net
Return
B:CR
T
1
: Control
6.04
0
76765
88090
181200
93110
1.1
T
2
: NAA 10 mg l
-1
9.06
396
76765
94148
271800
177652
1.9
T
3
: NAA 15 mg l
-1
9.56
440
76765
95130
286800
191670
2.0
T
4
: NAA 20 mg l
-1
9.65
484
76765
95343
289500
194157
2.0
T
5
: PCPA 10 mg l
-1
4.93
344
76765
86353
147900
61547
0.7
T
6
: PCPA 15 mg l
-1
4.71
362
76765
85958
141300
55342
0.6
T
7
: PCPA 20 mg l
-1
4.57
380
76765
85714
137100
51386
0.6
T
8
: 2,4-D 0.5 mg l
-1
7.17
310
76765
90518
215100
124582
1.4
T
9
: 2,4-D 1.0 mg l
-1
7.35
311
76765
90857
220500
129643
1.4
T
10
: 2,4-D 1.5 mg l
-1
8.37
312
76765
92770
251100
158330
1.7
T
11
: CCC 200 μl l
-1
10.08
375
76765
96040
302400
206360
2.1
T
12
: CCC 300 μl l
-1
10.44
419
76765
96759
313200
216441
2.2
T
13
: CCC 400 μl l
-1
9.79
442
76765
95563
293700
198137
2.1
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
299
NAA and CCC enhanced the early flowering
and pod setting. Cycocel application might
help the plants to make resistance to drought
and could, which is main cause of flower drop
and poor pod setting.
These also caused delay in senescence hence
increased net period for pod development.
Similar results were also found by Kumar et
al., (2003) in chickpea; Desai and Deore
(1985) in cowpea and Patil et al., (2005) in
green gram.
With increasing concentrations of cycocel,
there was increase in number of leaves and
number of branches. These might be due to
the beneficial effect of cycocel. CCC
application increased the synthesis of certain
endogenous growth substances, which triggers
metabolic processes and narrows down the
carbon-nitrogen ratio in the plant, stimulating
flowering and fruit set. Similar results were
also found by Resmi and Gopalakrishnan
(2004) in yard long bean as well as Sharma
and Lashkari (2009) in cluster bean. PCPA at
all levels delayed flowering and fruit harvest.
Similar results were also found by Resmi and
Gopalakrishnan (2004) in yard long bean.
Influence on pod characters
CCC 300 μl l
-1
recorded the maximum pod
length among all the treatments. This might be
due to faster cell division and enlargement and
increase of photosynthetic pigments thereby
increase assmilation of all substances and
bioconstituents and there translocation from
leaf and different plant organs (source) to pod
(sink) which ultimately increased the pod
length. Similar results were also found by
Kumar et al., (2003) in chick pea; Resmi and
Gopalakrishnan (2004) in long yard bean;
Sharma and Lashkari (2009) in cluster bean.
Number of pods plant
-1
was maximum in
treatment T
12
(CCC 300 μl l
-1
). This might be
due to reduced flower and immature pod drop.
The growth regulators prevented formation of
abscission layer which resulted the formation
of more pods and their retention on plant.
Similar results were also found by Desai and
Deore (1985) in cowpea; Patil et al., (2005) in
green gram. Das and Prasad (2003) in mung
bean also observed a significant increase in
number of pods plant
-1
was due to increased
number of branches and fruiting points, which
lead to better utilization of sunlight.
CCC 300 μl l
-1
recorded the maximum pod
yield among all the treatments. Increased
yields in these treatments can be explained
based on the enhanced vegetative growth,
increased fruit sizes and higher fruit numbers.
Exogenous application of plant growth
regulators might be causes a greater
accumulation of carbohydrates owing to
photosynthesis which accelerate the overall
growth of plant result in more number of pods
and increase size of seeds ultimately more
yield with good quality.
In particular, all concentrations of NAA and
CCC showed increased fruit numbers and per
plant yield, which may be because of a
reduction in flower drop and fruit abortion
thereby bring about an improvement in yield
potential. Similar results were also found by
Resmi and Gopalakrishnan (2004) in yard
long bean; Sharma and Lashkari (2009) in
cluster bean; Kumar et al., (2003) in chickpea;
Das and Prasad (2003) in mung bean; Desai
and Deore (1985) in cowpea and Patil et al.,
(2005) in green gram.
Influence on Economics
CCC 300 μl l
-1
registered the highest net profit
2,16,441 ₹ ha
-1
with B:CR value of 2.2 as
compared to rest of the treatment, followed by
T
11
(B:CR of 2.1). Whereas, treatment T
6
(PCPA 15 mg l
-1
) and T
7
(PCPA 20 mg l
-1
)
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2021) 10(07): 293-300
300
recorded the lowest net realization 55,341.85
and 51,386.35 ₹ ha
-1
respectively, with lowest
B:CR value of 0.6.
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How to cite this article:
Sarvaiya, J. P., S. N. Saravaiya, H. S. Patel and Tandel, Y. N. 2021. Response of Vegetable
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] to Foliar Application of PGRs.
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 10(07): 293-300. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2021.1007.031