Effect of Pinching and Salicylic Acid Application on Flower and Seed Production in Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis L.)

Authors

  • Muhammad Abbas Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Masood Ahmad Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Hamza Ali Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Shahana Jabin Department of Horticulture, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
  • Zakir Khan Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Rahamdad Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Adil Iqbal Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • sayed Muhammed Ilyas Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • Fahad Ali Department of Agricultural extension education and communication, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar
  • Abu Sufyan Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55627/pbulletin.004.01.1161

Keywords:

Delphinium ajacis, Pinching, Salicylic acid, Flower, Seed Production

Abstract

Delphinium ajacis L. (Larkspur) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant valued for its vibrant inflorescences and use in cut flower production. To enhance its growth, flowering, and seed yield, a study was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement of two factors: salicylic acid (0, 100, 150, and 200 mg L⁻¹) and pinching treatments (no pinching, 1-inch, and 2-inch pinching). A total of 12 treatments were replicated three times. The analysis revealed that both salicylic acid and pinching had a significant influence on plant performance (p < 0.01). The highest concentration of salicylic acid (200 mg L⁻¹) resulted in the earliest flowering (112.2 days), tallest plants (104.3 cm), highest number of capsules per plant (51.5), branches (10.8), spike length (34.9 cm), and seed weight per plant (21.6 g). Among pinching treatments, 2-inch pinching produced the highest number of branches (11.7), capsules per plant (46.6), and seed weight (23.9 g), though with reduced plant height (77.6 cm). These results suggest that applying 200 mg L⁻¹ salicylic acid combined with 2-inch pinching significantly enhances the vegetative and reproductive performance of Delphinium ajacis under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.

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Published

2025-06-28

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Plant Bulletin

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Abbas, Masood Ahmad, Hamza Ali, Shahana Jabin, Zakir Khan, Rahamdad, Adil Iqbal, sayed Muhammed Ilyas, Fahad Ali, Abu Sufyan

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How to Cite

Effect of Pinching and Salicylic Acid Application on Flower and Seed Production in Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis L.). (2025). Plant Bulletin, 4(1), 117-124. https://doi.org/10.55627/pbulletin.004.01.1161

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