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INFLUENCE OF
DEFOLIATION AND DEBLOSSOMING ON THE VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE GROWTH
OF GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) CV. ‘GOLA’
AHMAD SATTAR KHAN1*, MUHAMMAD REHMAN GUL KHAN1, AMAN ULLAH MALIK1,
BASHARAT ALI SALEEM2,
ISHTIAQ AHMAD RAJWANA3 AND IFTIKHAR AHMAD1
Abstract:
The study was
undertaken to determine the influence of defoliation and deblossoming on
the vegetative and reproductive growth of guava (Psidium guajava
L.) cv. ‘Gola’ tree. Twenty guava trees of uniform size and age with
five treatments replicated four times were selected for the experiment.
Defoliation and deblossoming was done manually at different levels [0%
defoliation + 0% deblossoming, 100% defoliation + 100% deblossoming, 50%
defoliation + 50% deblossoming, 0% defoliation + 50% deblossoming, and
0% defoliation + 100% deblossoming] by using pruning scissor in the last
week of April. The data regarding number of leaves, leaf drop percentage
and fruit growth was taken at 15 days interval during the whole study
period, while leaf age was recorded at the end of the experiment. Fruit
yield was determined at harvest separately for summer as well as winter
crop. Defoliation and deblossoming significantly affected the number of
leaves and leaf drop percentage. Maximum numbers of leaves were recorded
in the trees subjected to 100% defoliation + 100% deblossoming. Minimum
leaf drop was observed in the trees subjected to 50% defoliation +
50% deblossoming. Leaf age was found to be significantly higher in
trees treated with 0% defoliation + 50% deblossoming level in contrast
to other treatments. Fruit set % was significantly higher in the control
trees during summer crop. The interactions for fruit length, diameter
and size between different levels of defoliation and deblossoming, and
fruit growing period were significantly higher during summer crop than
winter crop. Trees subjected to 0% defoliation + 50% deblossoming
exhibited higher fruit length, diameter and size than other treatments.
In conclusion, defoliation and deblossoming had a significant impact on
the vegetative and reproductive growth of guava cv. ‘Gola’. The results
suggested that the defoliation has negative impact on the reproductive
growth of guava and deblossoming can be used effectively without
defoliation to encourage the winter crop.
1Institute
of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,
Pakistan
2Hill
Fruit Research Station, Sunny Bank, Murree Hills, Pakistan
3Department
of Horticulture, University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakarya,
University, Multan, Pakistan
*Corresponding
author:
ahmad_khan157@yahoo.com
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