Effect of different GA3 doses on tuber yield in salep plant

The effects of different GA3 doses on the yield and quality of salep, an important medicinal and industrial plant, were investigated. The study was conducted during the 2024–25 growing season at the Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture Application Area, employing a randomised block design with six treatments and four replications. Gibberellic acid was applied at six different doses (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm) after planting. Applications began on the 51st day after planting and were repeated seven times at 15-day intervals until harvest. Statistically significant differences were identified among the treatments in terms of the investigated traits. According to the mean results, the greatest plant height (36.70 cm), leaf width (1.51 cm) and fresh plant weight (9.61 g per plant) were achieved with the 150 ppm GA3 application. The greatest leaf count (11.62 per plant) and flower count (7.35 per plant) were achieved with the 250 ppm GA3 application. Tuber traits included a fresh tuber weight of 2.17 g per plant and a tuber yield of 350.81 kg per decare from the 50 ppm GA₃ application and a total tuber number of 15.25 per plant from the 200 ppm GA₃ application. The control application produced tuber length (2.54 cm) and dry tuber weight per plant (1.32 g/plant). It was concluded that GA3 applications can increase morphological characteristics and tuber yield in plants at appropriate doses.