Salicylic Acid Triggered Flowering in The Biomedical Ornamental Jasminum Sambac L.

Abstract

Jasminum sambac L, Madurai Malli, the pride of Madurai and the GI tagged ornamental and a biotherapeutic of the region, stands indeed a floral delight with manifold utility. Despite the vouching on its use in folk medicine and socio-cultural and economic interest conferred, the norms of its field cultivation, production and marketing have not been worked out in great detail. Notwithstanding to the popularity of this floral crop, there is research gap in understanding the dynamics of harvest. Attempts made to compare the efficacy of PGR treatments in this field study which involves foliar spraying of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and salicylic acid show that the flower development and yield is perhaps the first of its kind in Jasmine and can be considered useful for profitable manipulations. Experiments performed on randomized block design in the month of January - February for a period of two consecutive years indicate that among PGRs, GA and SA can trigger early flowering at higher intensities. Although each PGR used in the study could exert its own specific influence, salicylic acid treatments provided ample material for scrutiny. Best results of growth and yield could be observed at 100 ppm dosage where flower production was assessed in terms of increases in the number of flowering points, size of the individual flower and the quantum of the produce. Comparisons show that SA could increase the floral density by stimulating lateral shoots as in BAP and simulated the effects of GA by enhancing the enlargement of calyx and corolla whorls. Observations and results gathered in this investigation assume significance due to the paucity of documented information on this said species.