Influence of plant growth regulators on growth and yield of pome and stone fruits

Abstract

The plant growth regulators or phytohormones are organic substances produced naturally in higher plants, controlling growth or other physiological functions at a site remote from its place of production and active in minute amounts. The plant growth regulators are used for enhancement of fruit quality and production. The growth regulators are mainly applied through foliar sprays. In apple, preharvest drop is a serious problem and thus to control this problem auxins application is useful. GA3 increase fruit size, improves fruit firmness, increases vitamin-C, TSS, total sugars. Gibberellic acid and salicylic acid are also reported to increase yield, fruit acidity, reducing sugars, TSS, TSS/acid ratio, fruit firmness and fruit chlorophyll. The growth retardants like paclobutrazol and prohexadione-Ca are useful for controlling growth and improving fruit set. Ethephon is widely used for apple thinning. In this review, we focus on the role of plant growth regulators inpome and stone fruits.