Effect of pre harvest foliar application of micronutrients and sorbitol on flowering, pollen fertility and fruit set of litchi cv. Bombai

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of foliar spray of micronutrients, viz, calcium and boron and sorbitol on fruit-set, yield and fruit quality in litchi (Litchi chinensis). cv. Bombai, grown at Regional Research Station, Gayeshpur, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD), with three replications and seven treatments including control viz. T1 – (Calcium nitrate – 0.06%), T2 – (Boric Acid – 0.02%), T3 – Sorbitol – 2%, T4 - Calcium nitrate – 0.06% + Sorbitol – 2%, T5 - Boric Acid – 0.02% + Sorbitol – 2%, T6 - Calcium nitrate – 0.06% + Boric Acid – 0.02% + Sorbitol – 2%, and T7- control plot. Results revealed that Calcium nitrate – 0.06% + Boric Acid – 0.02% + Sorbitol – 2%, were the most effective for enhancing initial fruit set (61.37) and number of fruit per panicle at harvest (32.00), yield (41.72 kg /tree), fruit weight (29.14 g), TSS (20.80 °Brix), total sugars (16.80%) and ascorbic acid content (23.80 mg / 100 g). while control recorded minimum yield, fruit weight, TSS and total sugar content of fruits.