Effect of colchicine treatment on plant growth and floral behaviour in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

Polyploidy induction is an important tool for development of desired fruits and vegetables. Thus, induction of polyploidy particularly at autotetraploid and triploid levels offers probably the best scope for seedless as well as quality fruits. So, this method is one of the best options for the chromosome manipulation. In the present study an attempt was made to induce polyploids in Cape gooseberry using colchicine with the objective of creating more genetic variability. The trial was conducted under the Department of Horticulture, B.A.U., Kanke, Ranchi during two successive seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19) using colchicine concentrations as 0.10(C1), 0.20(C2) and 0.40(C3) per cent for the duration of 12 (H1), 24 (H2) and 36 (H3) hours with seedlings apex dip method (M1), cotton plug method (M2) and lanolin paste method (M3).The results of both years showed that the colchicine treated flower buds @ 0.10 per cent for 12 hours with cotton plug method produced the minimum plant height of 70.90 cm and 73.60 cm, larger leaf length of 12.13cm and 11.70cm and breadth of 10.50cm and 10.55 cm, more taken time in flower bud emergence of 53.00 days and 54.67 days and anthesis of 19.33 days and 20.33 days, bigger flower size of 2.93cm2 and 3.00 cm2 and minimum percentage of pollen viability of 40.33 per cent and 40.67 per cent respectively in comparison to control. This finding demonstrated the existence of genetic variation for the plant growth and flowering characters response to ploidy change in Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.).