PJB-2020-228
EFFICIENCY OF EXOGENOUS ZINC SULPHATE APPLICATION REDUCED FRUIT DROP AND IMPROVED ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ‘KINNOW’ MANDARIN FRUIT
Mehwish Liaquat
Abstract
‘Kinnow’ mandarin (Citrus nobilis L.×Citrus deliciosa T.) is an important marketable fruit of the world but out of total production from Pakistan there are only 10% production meets the international quality standard for export. Pre-harvest fruit drop and poor fruit quality could be associated with various issues and one of them is zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the influence of preharvest applications of Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) (0, 0.4%, 0.6% or 0.8%) on the yield and fruit quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin. Among different foliar applications of ZnSO4 four months before harvest, 0.6% ZnSO4 significantly reduced pre-harvest fruit drop (10.08%) as compared to untreated control trees (46.45%). Similarly, the maximum number of fruits harvested per tree (627), fruit weight (192.9 g), juice percentage (42.2%), total soluble solids (9.5 °Brix), ascorbic acid content (35.5 mg 100 g-1), sugars [total sugars (17.4%), reducing sugar (6.0%), and non-reducing sugar (10.8%)] were also found with 0.6% ZnSO4 treatment. Foliar application of 0.6% ZnSO4 also improved total antioxidants (TAO) and total phenolic contents (TPC) in fruit. In conclusion, foliar spray of ZnSO4 (0.6%) four months before fruit harvesting reduced pre-harvest fruit drop, increase yield with improved quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit.
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