The article presents the results of the research conducted during the 2015–
2017 years. On the experimental field of the Department of Horticulture and Storage of V.V. Dokuchaev KNAU was determined the influence of the plant growth regulators on the formation of a marketable yield and the content of some components of the cauliflower hybrids chemical composition.
The early ripening hybrids of cauliflower Livingstone F1 and Kul F1 were studied. The Humisol-super, Vympel, and Megafol were taken for the study. The experience was a two-factor: factor A was the features of the hybrid, factor B was drug treatment. The repetition was four-fold. Field experiments were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The cauliflowers` soil preparation and the plant care were carried out according to the generally accepted recommendations.
Treatment with growth regulators was carried out by spraying plants during the growing season according to the manufacturers' recommendations. The first spraying was carried out after planting seedlings in the open ground; the subsequent spraying had been carried every 14 days. An option without treatment was taken as a control.
As a result of the studies, it was found that treatment of cauliflower plants with growth regulators during the growing season significantly affects the yield of hybrids. Over the years of research, the highest yield of the Livingston F1 hybrid was obtained with the Megafol treatment, – 12,9 t/ha (+1,6 t/ha to control). The highest yield of the Kul F1 hybrid was 13,4 t/ha (+1,0 t/ha to control) during Humisol-super treatment.
It has been proved that the usage of the growth regulators influenced the physical indicators of the commercial yield of hybrids. During the 2015–2017 years, the average weight of cauliflower heads increased by 2,1–11,8 % compared to the control, depending on the treatment. The Megafol had a greater effect on the hybrids. Plants` treatment with growth regulators increased the average volume of the hybrid head by 1,3–11,3 % compared to the control. In terms of influence on this indicator, Megafol and Humisol-super were the best drugs.
It has been established that plant growth regulators affect the components of the cauliflowers' heads' chemical composition. The Vympel and Megafol increased the dry matter content in the Kul F1 hybrid by 1,0 and 1,4 %, respectively, compared with the control. The treatment of plants with the Humisol-super increased the ascorbic acid content in the heads of the Livingston F1 hybrid by 4,3 % compared to the control.
It is recommended to apply the treatment of plants during the growing season with Humisol-super (1,5l/ha) and Megafol (2,3 l/ha) every 14 days to increase the yield and improve the physical parameters of cauliflower heads.
Key words: cauliflower, hybrids, plant growth regulators, crop yields, physical yield indicators, chemical components.
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