Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Nutrient and Quality Changes in Zingiber officinale Rosc

Ginger is one of the oldest and renowned commercial spices well known for its medicinal and pharmaceutical value. Land degradation, availability of the quality rhizomes and diseases are some of the challenges faced in the ginger production. Since the productivity of a plant is influenced by a complex physiological process controlled by plant growth hormone balancing systems, the application of the growth regulators can have positive effect. Manipulating the PGR combinations and concentrations can lead to better quality and productivity in ginger. Hence, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) on nutrient and quality parameters in the ginger variety IISR Varada. Foliar spray of PGRs with 6-benzyl adenine purine (6-BAP), cycocel (Chlormequat chloride), gibberellic acid (GA) and paclobutrazol (PBZ) with five concentrations viz., 50ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm and 200ppm were applied 4th month after planting and water spray treated as control. Nutrients composition and biochemical components were observed on 5th month after planting and oleoresin was observed in the rhizomes after harvest. The results of pooled data over two years revealed that GA at 100 ppm recorded maximum nitrogen and chlorophyll content in leaves, potassium and protein in rhizomes. Regarding the oil content, maximum was noticed in treatment 100ppm Paclobutrazol followed by GA 100ppm.