NAA @ 200 ppm and 150 ppm. The number of
branches per plant was also recorded highest with
the application of NAA @ 200 ppm as double spray
but it was at par with double spray of NAA @ 150
ppm. This increase in plant growth might be due to
fact that NAA, being a member of auxin group,
promotes vegetative growth by active cell division,
cell enlargement and cell elongation. These results
are in consonance with Mankar et al. (2006) in China
Aster. The increase in leaf area was due to the fact
that the primary physiological effect of auxin is to
stimulate the elongation of cells due to increased
amylase activity, permeability of cell wall and
formation of energy rich phosphate (ATP) which
would have been utilized by plants for cellular
expansion and tissue growth resulting in more
vegetative growth of the plant (Pandey and Sinha,
1986).