Effect of soil applied paclobutrazol on chemical quality of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. rose scented

Abstract

Paclobutrazol is a plant growth retardant and triazole fungicide has been reported to be very effective for dwarfing a wide range of crops including litchi. It is a cell elongation and internode extension inhibitor that retards plant growth by inhibition of gibberellins biosynthesis. The effect of paclobutrazol at varying time intervals of litchi as soil drench application (1.00-4.00 g a.i. per meter canopy diameter) was investigated during 2016-18 in Pantnagar condition. The Chemical quality of litchi was significantly increased due to higher dose of paclobutrazol (2.0-4.0 g a.i./meter canopy diameter). Application of paclobutrazol at the rate 2.0, 3.0 a.i./tree through soil application method was noted to be more efficient in increasing Ascorbic acid, Total soluble solids, Total sugar, and Anthocyanin. The paclobutrazol applied at the rate 40 ml/tree was the most effective in increasing the Ascorbic acid (27.29 mg/100gm) followed by 60 ml/tree (27.15 mg/100g), while the minimum Ascorbic acid was recorded under control (25.37 mg/100gm). The application of paclobutrazol @ 40 ml/tree, the Titratable acidity of litchi tree was found to be minimum (0.49%) as compared to control (0.54 %). In different time intervals the D2 (October) estimated the minimum titratable acidity (0.51%) followed by D2 (October), while the maximum titratable acidity was noted under D3 (0.53%).The main purpose of this study is to focus upon contemporary information about paclobutrazol in litchi growth.