PJB-2020-31
FRUIT DROP, YIELD AND QUALITY OF CITRUS RETICULATA BLANCO AS AFFECTED BY FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SALICYLIC ACID AND INDOLE ACETIC ACID
Laraib Aziz
Abstract
The present studies were conducted with the targets to control excessive fruit drop and to improve fruit yield, fruit weight, and size of Citrus reticulate Blanco by foliar application of PGRs (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) alone and their combination. Fruit dropping is mainly due to the deficiency of nutrients, environmental stresses, insect pests and diseases attacks. Present investigations were conducted on two citrus orchards situated at Sahiwal (Horticultural Research Station) and Toba Tek Singh (Mungi Bangla) with low productivity and heavy citrus fruit dropping history. Treatments of PGRs applied through foliar spray consisted of salicylic acid (SA @ 100 mg/L), indole acetic acid (IAA @ 5 mg/L) and their combination i.e. SA+IAA along with control (no use of PGR). The experimental design was RCBD. Foliar sprays were applied at three stages, first at initiation of flowering, second at fruit formation and third at fruit color initiation. Results indicated that citrus fruit yield and dropping were significantly affected by the foliar application of PGRs alone as well as using their combination. Foliar application of SA and IAA resulted in better fruit yield and quality with less fruit dropping. Combination of SA and IAA ( SA+IAA)proved to be the best treatment in improving fruits weights, sizes, quality and other physiological and biological parameters and showed maximum control over fruit dropping (least fruit dropping and thus improved fruit retention) and it was followed by SA and IAA.
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