Studies on exogenous application of plant growth regulators on storage changes in kiwifruit cv. Hayward

Abstract

Effect of four different plant growth regulators viz., GA3 (25 and 50 mg/litre), BA (10 and 20 mg/litre), 2,4-D (10 and 25 mg/litre), TRIA (10 and 20 mg/litre) and a natural extract (4gm/litre) on storage changes in kiwifruit cv. Hayward were studied for two consecutive years. 11-year-old vines of kiwifruit cv. Hayward grown on a T-bar trellis system for two years were sprayed four weeks after full bloom. All the growth regulators proved effective in reducing physiological loss in weight. Application of 25 mg/litre GA3 sprayed four weeks after full bloom proved effective in maintaining higher firmness, TSS and vitamin C content after 20 days of ambient storage. Sensory evaluation reading after 20 days of ambient storage was also higher under this treatment. The study showed that the application of plant growth regulators viz., GA3 (25 and 50 mgL-1), BA (10 and 20 mgL-1), 2,4-D (10 and 25 mgL-1), TRIA (10 and 20 mgL-1) and a natural extract (4gmL-1) four weeks after full bloom influences the storage changes after 20 days of ambient storage.