Impact of applying plant growth regulators topically on the frequency of illnesses and insect pests in autumn-planted seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Abstract

In order to investigate the impact of foliar application of plant growth regulators on insect-pest and disease
incidence in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in subtropical circumstances, a field experiment was carried out
in 2019–20 and 2020–21 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. On the potato cultivar, a
randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used to evaluate 11 treatments,
including the control. Pukhraj Kufri. The findings showed that, as compared to the untreated control, plant
growth regulators such as GA3, IBA, NAA, ethrel, jeevamrit, and waste decomposer did not significantly affect
the incidence of aphid, jassid, and whitefly populations. With the exception of late blight, illnesses like scab and
scurf did not show any appreciable variations in the plant growth regulator's treatments. Gibberellic acid (200
ppm) applied topically at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) dramatically decreased the frequency and severity
of late blight in the seed potato variety Kufri Pukhraj.