Effect of pre-treatment with GA3 and geometry of planting on sprouting and growth of calla lily (Zantedeschia spp) cv. ‘Captain Murano’ under shade net condition

An experiment was carried out at Floricultural Research Station to study the effect of pre pre-treatment of rhizomes with GA₃ and planting geometries on sprouting, growth, and flowering of calla lily cv. Captain Murano under shade net conditions. From the pooled data of both the years 2020-21, 2022-23 it was found among the different treatment combinations pre treatment with GA3 at 500 ppm and planting at 45 x 45 cm spacing recorded minimum days to early sprouting (7.92 days), days to 50 % sprouting (13.18 days) and days to maximum sprouting (16.56 days), whereas, maximum plant height at 30 days (48.53 cm), 60 days (64.57 cm) and 90 days (73.18 cm), was recorded with GA3 at 500 ppm and planting at 30 x 30 cm. The study faced several challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure accurate and reliable results. One major challenge was maintaining uniform shade net conditions throughout the experimental period, especially considering varying climatic factors across the two years (2020–21 and 2022–23). Another difficulty was ensuring consistent rhizome quality and size for uniform pre-treatment with GA₃, as variability in planting material could affect sprouting and growth responses. Pest and disease management under shade net conditions also demanded close monitoring to avoid confounding effects on growth and flowering parameters. The study successfully demonstrates how integrating plant growth regulators with precise planting strategies can improve commercial flower crop performance under shade net conditions.