Application of plant growth regulators on the parthenocarpic fruit development in teasle gourd (Kakrol, Momordica dioica Roxb.)

An experiment was conducted with a view to find out the possibility of inducing parthenocarpic fruit in teasle gourd (kakrol, Momodrica dioica Roxb.). The experiment was laid out at BSMRAU, Gazipur, Bangladesh during summer season of 2001 and 2002. Seven plant growth regulators (PGR's) viz. auxins (NAA: naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-D: 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), cytokinins (CPPU: N-(2-chloro-4 pyridyl)-N' phenyl urea, Fulmet: forchlorophenuron), gibberellin (GA₃: gibberellin A₃) and auxin transport inhibitors (TIBA: 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid and MH: maleic hydrazide) with three concentrations (25, 50 and 100 ppm) were sprayed at three times (a day before, at and a day after anthesis) with split-split plot design. Out of seven, only three PGR's (2,4-D, Fulmet and CPPU) were effective to parthenocarpic fruit development. Fruit size and weight increased with increase of concentration of PGR's except 2,4-D. Induced parthenocarpic fruits had no seeds. Control treatments (water spray) produced no fruits. The results revealed the possibility of developing parthenocarpy or seedless fruit using PGR's in teasle gourd.