Effect of plant bio-regulators and chemicals on fruit physico-chemical traits of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a favorite table fruit of the tropical region, valued very much for its refreshing juice consisting of nutritional and medicinal properties. The experiment was conducted to study the effect of some plant bio-regulators and chemicals on fruit physico-chemical traits of 2 years old young pomegranate cv. Bhagwa under Lucknow subtropical condition having dry element and high pH (8.2) soil. The experiment was comprised with 9 treatments (T0-control (water spray), T1-NAA @ 50 ppm, T2-NAA @ 75 ppm, T3-GA3 @ 50 ppm, T4- GA3 @ 75 ppm, T5-Borax @ 25 ppm, T6-Borax @ 50 ppm, T7-2,4-D @ 5 ppm, T8-2,4-D @ 15 ppm] laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The observation revealed that the application of treatment T8 (2,4-D @ 15 ppm) was better for improvement of fruit weight (101.67 g), fruit length (6.00 cm), fruit volume (92.00), specific gravity (1.10), number of aril/fruit (363.33), number of segment/fruit (5.00), acidity (0.45%), vitamin C (10.20 mg/100g), total sugar (6%) and non-reducing sugar (1.93%). While the maximum T.S.S: Acid ratio and reducing sugar was recorded under treatment T1 (NAA @ 50 ppm). The biggest fruit (4.73 cm diameter) increase by the application of NAA @ 75 ppm under treatment T2. The maximum pericarp thickness (4.73 mm) and total soluble solids (12.57 0Brix) was recorded under treatment T4 (GA3 @ 75ppm) and T6 (Borax @ 50 ppm).